Garbage chokes up Vadakkupattu lake

Chennai: The upcoming monsoon may not bring cheer to residents of Medavakkam as the groundwater table is depleting due to fast pace development in the region and Vadakkupattu lake chokes with garbage and encroachments despite repeated efforts by environmentalists to clean the lake.

“More than 50 per cent of the 150 acre water body is encroached. The encroachment came in the form of a small hut, a few years back and within no time, the area was gobbled by a large number of commercial establishments,” said Muralidharan, one of the activists.

Activists say that people living nearby dump huge amount of waste near the lake and now at least 14 tonnes of waste is piled up near the lake spreading stench in the area.

P. Kumaravel, one of the residents, alleged the reason to be poor garbage collection in the area. “Moreover, untreated sewage is let into the river at nights by private trucks that collect sewage from household,” he said.

Recently, a group of volunteers from the area had cleared three tonnes of broken bottles and polythene from the lake. But, they rue that the plight was alike a week later.

Now, they have started campaigning in streets, spreading awareness on the issue and a mass desilting drive would be held on September 17. They seek the support of government which has promised clean-up four months ago and have taken no action so far.

When contacted, officials from PWD said the work would finish before the northeast monsoon, but were vague on when they were planning to
start.