CHENNAI: Nearly 100 waterbodies in Chennai Metropolitan Area will get a new lease of life as the State government has sought consultants to prepare a detailed project report to rejuvenate or rehabilitate lakes and ponds in the city.It is learnt that Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL) will be appointing a consultant for Greater Chennai Corporation under the Project Development Grant Fund to prepare a detailed project report under two phases.
The tenders have been floated last month and by July 17 the bids will be closed, a TNUIFSL source said. The study will suggest ways to improve rejuvenation of water bodies and their water holding capacity, ground water recharge and rain water harvesting, including inter connectivity between various waterbodies, tanks, ponds and waterways.
The study will also help in restoring and conserving water bodies in an environmentally sustainable way and contribute to the long-term sustainability of waterbody.In the first phase, nine large waterbodies including Sathangadu Eri, Kanniyamman Kovil Street Lake, Thangal Lake in Puthagaram, Southern Railway Lake adjacent to Korratur Lake, Alappakam Lake, Arra Kulam near Periyar Salai in Gnamoorthy Nagar, a pond near Chettiyar Agaram School would be undertaken along with 35 small waterbodies.
Similarly in the second phase, eight large waterbodies-Thamarai Kulam, Anai Eri, Periya eri, Thandu Karai Kulam, Thennam Poigai Pond at Padavattamman Koil Street, Pidariamman Koil Kulam, Purah Kulam and Anna Nedunsalai Kulam- will be taken up along with 37 small waterbodies.
The biggest challenge for the consultant is that the lakes and small waterbodies don’t have defined or fixed boundaries and some of them could have been encroached upon. It is learnt that Greater Chennai Corporation officials will be providing the required support in identifying the waterbodies for the consultants, who will study the existing waterbodies and its connectivity with reference to topographical maps, satellite imagery, revenue records and town survey registers.The consultants will also study the impact of invasive species such as water hyacinth and prosopis and plan for their removal.