Following repeated complaints by the public and visits by the local MLA andMayor, the Vellore Corporation has taken temporary measures to divert the sewage let into the Palavansathu lake.
Residents of Ezhil Nagar and Avvai Nagar had stopped using the water of Palavansathu lake 15 years ago, as it was found contaminated. Many of the residents who used the lake for washing purposes complained of skin problems.
The lake was originally receiving the rainwater from Otteri and Gundusoor Hills.
Due to settlements along its banks, the drainage lines of the houses were connected to the rainwater channel causing sewage and rainwater to discharge into the lake.
The lake also became a dumping yard and a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Councillor of ward 42, G Anbu said,“ There are chances of the problem getting worse in the days to come if not addressed now. The lake water contamination has already affected groundwater in the nearby areas.”
The Corporation has now dug a temporary line to divert the sewage water flow into a separate line, without letting it into the lake. The new line is about 800-feet long and starts from Paraimedu area where sewage from houses mix in the rainwater channel.
Steps have been taken to construct another line to the lake, to discharge the rainwater.
“The ground was dug last week and the new line was connected to the drainage line in the adjacent Allapuram area,” Anbu said.
However, the encroachments along the new drainage line had to be cleared and proper a cement structure needed to be constructed, he added. This would take about four months to complete, he noted and added that the project also included desilting of the lake.