The Corporation has permitted the Forest Department to plant saplings near the Panamarathupatty Lake, located on the outskirts of the city.
As part of the 67{+t}{+h}birthday celebrations of Chief Minister Jayalalitha, saplings were planted across the State.
The lake that once served as a major drinking water source for the city residents belongs to the Corporation.
The department has recently requested the Corporation to allow it to plant saplings under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Hence, the Corporation has decided to permit the department to plant saplings on various conditions.
The department should bear all the cost towards planting saplings and maintenance and should not install any advertising boards in the area. Also, the department should not seek rights for the trees in the future as it belongs only to the corporation.
Based on the above conditions, the Corporation allowed the department to plant saplings in the lake.
The lake, sprawling over 2,400 acres, belongs to the Corporation. However, due to encroachment of the waterways and construction of check dams across the water channels, the inflow was cut off completely.
Currently, only seemai karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) trees were found in the lake.
Residents have been demanding that the trees be removed and the waterways be cleared of encroachment so that the lost glory of the lake can be restored.
The department has recently requested the Corporation to allow it to plant saplings under MGNREGS
