Chennai: Puzhal lake or Red Hills lake is a vast waterbody that is one among three rain fed reservoirs that feed water to Chennai city, the two other being Chembarambakkam land Porur lakes. But the lake is currently in a pitiful state.
The nearly 4,500 acre waterbody is suffering from all ends as people constantly try to disavow the lake, what with encroachments coming in thick and fast. But while that is a separate matter to be dealt with, immediate attention should be towards stopping sewage water bring let into the lake, residents stated.
The problem is that Stormwater Drains (SWDs) at Ambattur are used not only to carry excess rain water but also to carry sewage, due to the lack of sewer pipes.
However, the SWDs take the untreated sewage straight to the lake that provides water to lakhs of Chennai residents.
“What the authorities do on the matter is only known to them. They do not provide the necessary facilities to residential areas and at the same time, they do not stop things like these from happening as well,” lashed out Santhosh, a student who lives in the area.
“SWDs are supposed to carry excess rain water and rain water alone. I am sure this issue has reached the ears of authorities concerned. However, there is no action being taken,” said Manjula, a resident.
When asked what the solution for the problem would be, residents said, “People should change first. Many residential areas let out sewage water because of the impending Infrastructural Development Charges (IDC) problem in the neighbourhood. The government has stated that the charges can be paid through installments and when implemented in Ambattur, like it has been in a couple of other localities now, things will be set right.”
Manikandan, a resident of Puzhal, said, “poor management from the government side has for long made things worse for people. Authorities must pull up their socks and get projects done. That is their duty. I would also blame residents who let sewage water into SWDs. Although they would say that they have no sewage connection, it does not give them the right to pollute the environment. Playing the blaming game needs to come to an end,” he said.
Residents want authorities concerned to look at the matter and get to work before health issues arise among the public who consume Puzhal water.