Chennai: In a move that will make Madipakkam and surrounding areas in the city suburb survive the upcoming monsoon and possible flooding, Madipakkam-based Waterbodies Restoration Organisation (WRO), Central Madipakkam Welfare Association and the Greater Chennai Corporation have joined hands and cleaned couple of waterbodies in the locality as part of Clean India movement.
Speaking to News Today, WRO’s coordinator, Seeni Sethuraman, said,”We cleaned two major waterbodies in the region: Madipakkam Karthikeyapuram lake and Eashwaran Temple pond. The restoration of the former took place last week where we joined hands with Greater Chennai Corporations Ward 187 workers. We uprooted all the seemai karuvelam shrubs which are known for depleting ground water. Then, we planted palm seeds in their place.”
“Following this, we cleaned Eashwaran Temple pond present close to Madipakkam bus stand. The event took place on Gandhi Jayanthi. In addition to Ward 187 workers, the residents of Central Madipakkam Welfare Association also joined us in the cleaning process. The event was coordinated by WRO’s. We removed all the litter and plastic waste surrounding the waterbody. We thank all the volunteers who made both the events successful,” he added.
It is to be noted that Tamilnadu Water Resources Department (TNWRD) has started monsoon preparedness activities in the locality.
Sources from the department said Madipakkam and the surrounding areas have been given more attention this time. Of the Rs 6 crore allotted for Chennai, more than 10 per cent will be spent for the neighbourhood.
As a first step, to prevent inundation in Madipakkam and Keelkattalai, Velacheri tank, its surplus course and link channel between the lake and Pallikaranai marshland is being desilted.
Sources further said once this gets over, all the lakes and ponds in Keelkattalai and Nanmangalam will be de-silted and de-weeded apart from Veerangal Odai.
WRD will also be joining hands with other departments to remove encroachments along these water-bodies.
This process will take place till December when the rains finally subside. Sethuraman also requested participation of many residents for future events like these. He can be contacted at 9283434446.