Programme to save lakes in city southern suburbs

By S.Shanker

CHENNAI, JULY 28. Resident welfare associations and government agencies are working together to launch a programme to save lakes in the southern suburbs of the city.

The associations have been told that it is possible to obtain funds from the Central Groundwater Board for lake conservation and rainwater harvesting.

According to Mr. Srinivasan, former president of Adambakkam Exnora Innovators Club, the Board officials have given their requirement for extending assistance and suggested that a committee, under the chairmanship of the District Collector, be formed for initiating the proposal. Besides, the implementing agency should be a government organisation, such as the PWD.

The association heads have decided to meet on August 4 to nominate their representatives to the committee, which would also include members from the PWD, the TWAD and the local body. The task of preparing a draft proposal for the Pallavaram municipal area, including estimates and other details, have been assigned to the local body administration. Pallavaram has been chosen for the plan as water scarcity is acute in the area.

The Pallavaram Municipal Chairman, Mr. K. Adaikalam, said the Collector met the local resident associations and those from Adambakkam and Tambaram recently. The association heads sought assistance for protecting and desilting lakes in their areas for rain water percolation. The Collector promised them financial assistance for protecting water resources and asked officials of the local bodies to identify sites for rehabilitating encroachers of the lake beds and bunds.

The officials have also been directed to construct interceptor canals along the periphery of lake beds to prevent sewerage flowing into them. The municipality has to make a nominal contribution for the project.

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Section  : Southern States
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