Residents want bund as birds return to Rajakilpakkam

Residents of Rajakilpakkam in Tambaram have been asking for a park and a bund cum walkway to be built around the banks of Rajakilpakkam lake. They claimed that the brimming lake attracts migratory birds and would be an ideal local tourist site.

“The Rajakilpakkam lake, which was originally spread over about 105 acres, has been reduced to 30 acres owing to encroachments. So, to restore the lake without depending on the officials, we started cleaning and desilting one side of it and it took us more than six months,” said V Seetharaman, member of Rajakilpakkam Residents’ Welfare Association.

“Now that the lake is clean and filled with water from the recent rains, after five years migratory birds have returned to it. But, it is difficult for locals to approach the lake, especially when it’s overflowing, because there are no bund around it,” he added.

Meanwhile, PWD officials claimed that it takes time to desilt Rajakilpakkam lake because there are more than 5,000 houses, including shanties, near it. Locals alleged that PWD officials had visited the lake to relocate encroachers and desilt the other side of the lake, but failed to carry out the plan.

Kasinathan M, a resident of Rajakilpakkam, said, “We are excited to see migratory birds return to the lake after so many years but we cannot go near it because the bank is not clearly defined and the area is always muddy and swamp-like. We need at least a proper bund around the lake.”

Commenting on this, a senior PWD official said, “We have issued notice to the residents to relocate from here to Perumbakkam. The encroachments will be removed by this month, and the lake will be desilted. We have, however, not discussed any plans of building of a parknear the lake.”