Remove artificial bund from Sembakkam Lake: Residents

CHENNAI: Residents of Chitlapakkam raise red flag against the construction of artificial bund in Sembakkam Lake fearing water inundation in low-lying areas and urged the authorities to completely remove the obstruction, which is created in a way to block storm water drains.

Dayanand Krishnan, president of Pradeep and Karthik Avenue Association, said that a new artificial foreshore bund with a pond has been formed in the water spread area above the lake bed level recently in Sembakkam Lake.

"The artificial bund is obstructing the flood surplus flow from disposal points of three lakes such as Selaiyur Lake, Chitlapakkam Lake and Rajakilpakkam Lake. This will affect low lying areas like Thirumagal Nagar, Pradeep and Karthik Avenue, Balaji Avenue, Shanthi Avenue, GD Naidu street, Gomathy Nagar and others," he warned.

Dayanand recalled that the locality witnessed inundation up to 4 to 5 feet above the road during 2015 floods. He also pointed out that the authorities landfilled around 11 acres of water spread area of Sembakkam Lake thus reducing the water storage capacity of the lake for constructing a sewage treatment facility.

"We have petitioned the Commissioner of Revenue Administration to intervene and direct the water resource department to remove the bund and pond formation at the disposal point, and clear landfill. The project has been given to a non-governmental organisation by the water resource department," he said.

Meanwhile, the rainwater reversed in the drain that connects the residential areas and Sembakkam Lake on August 28 due to the artificial bund and water entered houses in APJ Abdul Kalam Street and Balaji Avenue in Chitlapakkam.

Following the complaint from the residents, the water resource department has moved the artificial bund by 20 feet. "But we want the complete removal of the bund and the pond. We also requested the officials to share the details of the project but they are yet to share the information," he said.

When asked, officials assured that adequate measures will be taken to prevent flooding in the locality.