Farmers resist Kadapakkam lake restoration fearing irrigation restrictions

Chennai

“There are more than 500 families of farmers directly depended on the lake. Apart from this 500, another 500 families benefit from the lake indirectly. If Chennai Corporation implements the project, we may be restricted from using the lake water for irrigation. Around 400 acres of land gets irrigation from the lake,” S Murugan, an activist and farmer, said.

Farmers in Kadapakkam, Kanniyampettai, Kamarajapuram, Andarkuppam, Kulakarai and other villagers depend on the lake.

He added that even though the lake belongs to the public works department, farmers around the lake have the freedom to open the sluice gates whenever required. As the soil from the lake was removed for industrial purposes, the level of the lake has gone several feet lower than the sluice gate.

“We can draw only 10 per cent of the water through the sluice gates. Around 90 per cent of water is used for farming using diesel pumps. If the Corporation converts the lake into a recreational spot, we fear that the diesel pumps will not be allowed,” Murugan said.

Presently, farmers grow paddy once a year during monsoon and other crops like bananas and vegetables throughout the year using lake water. Farmers around the lake have decided to meet the Chennai Corporation Commissioner and officials of the water resource department on Monday to request the project to be dropped.

It may be noted that the Corporation had recently floated tender inviting private consultants to prepare a detailed project report for the restoration. The lake spreads over 130 acres.

The eco-restoration of Kadapakkam lake is a part of the integrated stormwater drain project which is being funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The stormwater drain project is being implemented at Kosasthalaiyar Basin, that comprises zones such as Thiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram and Ambattur.

As Kadapakkam lake is situated in the Kosasthalaiyar basin, the Asian Development Bank has come forward to provide a grant of Rs 50 crore.