Chetpet lake to get makeover

Chennai: The state government is all set to rejuvenate the Chetpet lake in the heart of the city.

A committee that it has formed to protect the 15-acre water body and start beautification projects at a cost of Rs 42 crore, has already met. It has also seen to the containment for now of the overflowing sewerage lines, sou­r­ces said. This project comes in the wake of the successful restoration of a part of the Pallikarnai ma­rsh.

Officials of the Chennai River Restoration Trust that also focused on the Adyar Poonga Trust, the Chennai corporation, fis­heries department, Che­nnai Metropolitan Deve­lopment Authority, Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Bo­ard and Southern Rail­way, who will be the stakeholders involved in the lake’s restoration also pa­rticipated in the meeting.

There are plans to set up a seafood restaurant, joggers’ track, fountains and play area for children and the tender process for the project would commence shortly, a fisheries department official said.

Ecologists and green act­ivists are next dem­an­ding the restoration and protection of Velachery and Ayanvaram lakes. “The beautification of Ayanavaram lake is long pending and the public would benefit if its pollution is stopped. The adjacent Ainsley canal also requires desilting,” said Sudarshan Lokesh, a resident of Villivakkam.