The Porur lake, one of the large waterbodies around the city, remains neglected with garbage strewn in the water spread area and along the bund.
According to the residents of the areas near the lake, garbage, including plastic waste, is being dumped along the bund, particularly along the stretch of Porur- Kundrathur High Road. The lake, which is spread across 72 hectares, has water only in an area of 15 hectares.
S. Javed, a resident of Porur, said the lake is also contaminated as sewage is released into it. People found it easy to pollute the waterbody as there was no fencing along the lake except for a portion on Mount-Poonamallee High Road, he said.
He demanded that the government take measures to clean and protect the lake as it served as a groundwater resource in the adjoining localities.
A recent study by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board that monitors water quality of the Porur lake said coliform contamination was found in untreated water. According to sources in the Board, such contamination in surface water was found before chlorination owing to pollution in the lake, including open defecation.
A. Narayanan, civic activist, said some meat shop owners in the area also dumped waste in the lake. It has also been turned into a breeding ground for stray pigs. People misused the waterbody as the locality lacked public convenience and a dump yard. “Officials concerned must fence the area and provide a walkers' path on the bund,” he said.
S. Arunachalam, president of the Porur town panchayat, said the local body would take steps to clean the area around the lake. Measures are being taken to acquire a dumping yard for better solid waste management.
Officials of the Water Resources Department said the Chennai Metrowater was drawing water through its infiltration wells near the lake and supplied two million litres a day to parts of the city.
However, it was suspended recently following availability of water from other sources.
Steps would be taken to instal a board warning against misuse of the waterbody. A portion of the lake near Chettiyar agaram would be fenced at a cost of Rs.2 lakh to prevent burning of garbage.
The department also plans to submit a detailed project report for the Porur lake next month to take up works such as desilting and strengthening of the bund, which is due for several years, the officials said.
