CHENNAI: It has been at least two decades since the Ramapuram lake, which is the only source of groundwater recharge in the area, has been desilted. A few residents have also constructed pipes illegally to route the sewage from their home into the lake.
“Before 1987, the lake spread across 27 acres. Later, it was classified into Natham Poramboke, and patta was given for seven acres of land and four acres was given to the Slum Clearance Board. Of the remaining 16 acres, nine acres were found to be encroached, in a survey,” said one of the residents of the area on condition of anonymity.
However, little has been done to clear the encroachments. At least 200 houses and commercial establishments have been built illegally, further shrinking the size of the lake to four acres. Residents rue that only 26 houses have been razed by the Highways department in August, this year, for widening Bharathi Salai and that nothing has been done to the remaining encroachments.
In 2016, the Corporation planned to desilt the lake and put up a fence to prevent encroachments. However, work stopped midway.“When the MLA of the area visited the lake in August, he asked the Corporation officials to prepare an estimate for the strengthening of bund and desilting of the lake within 10 days. We have also suggested to the department that we can assist in sending the JCBs if required,” said Paul Dhas, president, Ramapuram Social Welfare Federation.
Residents of the area recalled how they depended on the lake for irrigation in the 1980s and how they face water scarcity in summers now. With the monsoon approaching, they demanded imperative action.When contacted, a local official from the Corporation said that they prepared a Detailed Project Report for revamping the lake.
“The storm water drain department will call for the tender soon. Under the project, the bund would be strengthened and an area would be created for residents to jog or walk. We are also planning on setting up benches and play equipment for children,” he said.