Madipakkam lake polluted

Chennai: The Madipakkam lake, which holds water almost all through the year, is losing its charm. The water is getting contaminated and its pollution levels threaten to affect groundwater in the area.

The lake, originally spread over 64 acres, has now shrunk to 56 acres owing to encroachments; dumping of garbage and plastic waste continue to hound the water body. Though officials blame locals for not showing concern to keep the natural lake clean, residents complain that lack of garbage and a sewage disposal mechanism has been marring the beauty of the lake and the quality of water.

The discharge of sewage into the lake has raised apprehensions of disease outbreak in the area. The natural flow of rainwater into the once 100-acre water body has got clogged due to the work on plugging of sewage outlets into the Madipakkam lake.

There are six inlets for rainwater to drain into the lake which was once maintained by the state forest department before being handed over to the state public works department in 2004. These inlets facilitate the incursion of water from the surrounding areas, including Karthikeyapuram, Keezhkattalai and Medavakkam areas.

Borewells sunk close to the lake serve to provide drinking water to the neighbourhood.

According to official sources, efforts are on to contain the seepage of sewage and also to improve the ambience of the lake.

“The area will see more development as it has been included in the city corporation limits,” an official said, and added that sufficient care was being taken to ensure hygienic, potable water to the residents.