Survey Perungudi lake for encroachments: NGT

CHENNAI: The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Chennai Collector, Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the Water Resource Department (WRD) to survey Perungudi lake along with neighbouring waterbodies like Madipakkam, Puzhithivakkam and Chitheri lakes for encroachments.

Taking up the matter as a suo motu case, the tribunal bench comprising Justice K Ramakrishnan and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati noted that the Perungudi lake, situated between the seashore and wetland, catered to the agricultural needs in Kandanchavadi and Perungudi in the past.

The Public Works Department had deepened the lake and strengthened its banks in 1997. However, encroachment and damaging the fence began in the subsequent years. Making matters worse, sewage water was also being let into the lake.

Taking these facts into consideration, the tribunal directed the concerned authorities to remove encroachments, provide bio-fencing and green cover, and develop the area around the lake as a bio-diversity park.

It also directed the officials to deepen the lake to increase its storage and take steps to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage and dumping of waste in the lake. The sluices and weirs should be maintained to regulate the flow of water, and desilting and removal of weeds should be taken up regularly to keep the lake clean and pollution-free, the tribunal added in its order.

In other directions, the city Corporation was directed to implement the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and Liquid and other Waste Management Rules strictly, and expedite the process of disposing of legacy waste in Pallikaranai, Athipattu, Sathangadu and Perungudi dumping yards.

The civic body should also take steps to handover the reclaimed area in Perungudi and Pallikaranai dumping yards to the Forest Department, directed the tribunal, adding that underground sewage network should be set up in the area.