Villivakam lake to be restored

The 36.5-acre lake was acquired by the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) and 24.84 acres was handed over to the Corporation. The remaining area has been designated for the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewage Board (CMWSSB) sewage treatment plant (STP), said a corporation official. 

A detailed project report (DPR) is in the advanced stages of preparation, added the official. “The estimated cost is Rs 16 crore for the project, which will not only restore the Villivakkam lake but also add facilities such as basketball court, children’s play area, walking track, restrooms, open-air theatre and a lake aeration system to ensure the quality of water. After the DPR is prepared, it will be sent for the approval of the Smart City Board, following which it will be tendered,” said the official. 

A senior corporation official associated with the Smart City project said, “This is one of the first major lake restorations under the Smart City initiative. Hopefully, many more will follow.”

The Villivakkam lake, which was earlier dumped with debris and sewage inflow, came into the limelight after the residents of the surrounding Sidco Nagar teamed up with Arappor Iyakkam, to save their waterbody. Jayaram Venkatesan, Convenor, Arappor Iyakkam, said that they had moved the Madras High Court for the restoration of the lake in 2016. 

“In December 2016, we pushed for restoration and to stop the dumping of debris by CMRL. The case was transferred to the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The government had argued that they needed the 11 acres for the STP. The judge had ordered that the DPR must be ready before December 18. To make the lake restoration project a community monitoring initiative, the residents must be involved right from the DPR state. The Corporation called us and the residents for a meeting in November, where the Corporation Commissioner said that they will soon have a feedback session with the stakeholders for the DPR proposal,” said the activist. 

For the residents of Sidco Nagar, this is a moment of victory. Harirangan P, President, Sidco Nagar Residents Welfare Association, said, “When the Corporation officials discussed that the restoration will include facilities such as a walking track, we, the residents, felt happy. We hope that the civic body stops the inflow of the sewage into the waterbody and ensures that the lake is transformed into a recreational space for the residents.”