Chennai: The state government, within a week, is going to start bio-mining work at Chitlapakkam lake, as part of measures to restore a portion of the lake to its original condition.
The work, once completed, would put an end to the misery of residents living around the lake where garbage has been dumped for a few decades.
After a Rs 20 lakh tender was awarded in February, bio-mining work was supposed to begin the following month.
However, there was a delay due to a few monetary issues and during a member of Parliament grievance meeting held recently, it was told that after phase one work begins, two more Rs 20 lakh tenders would be floated for the complete revival of the lake.
Bio-mining is a process where previously dumped waste is dug up after loosening by harrowing and then processed in a bid to recover valuable recyclable scrap while also recovering landfill space.
The machinery for the work arrived a week ago. Officials said waste of different sizes would be separated using a trommel screen. Electro-magnetic waste will be separated on a conveyor belt while a blower filters away plastic waste. The private company assigned for the work would transport the waste accumulated over the years to its bio-mining facility at Erumaiyur, a village near Sriperumbudur.
The end product, likely to be mud waste, will be rid of toxic materials and as such becomes reusable. “This would be a major respite for all residents. The lake was being polluted with huge heaps of garbage and also sewage was being let out into it. Now, it is also a major cause of hardship for both the schools located near the lake - turned dumpsite,” said Dayanand Krishnan, President, Pradeep and Karthik avenue association, Chitlapakkam.
