Chennai: Residents and visitors who come to Madipakkam lake rarely miss to point the lack of bins in and around the waterbody. In this instance, they want the issue at Lake View Main Road to be addressed as the garbage menace prevailing in the stretch is crucial.
Like every other waterbody in the neighbourhood, Madipakkam lake sees a generous headcount everyday due to efforts put in by the residents.
They made the authorities and NGO’s to instal benches, plant saplings and lay platforms. These changes have later transformed the lake into a place perfect for relaxation, which in turn attracted many from other areas.
Even the recent hit film, Raatchasan opens with the story of murder with the lake as the backdrop. These instances have made the lake popular and have paved way for commercialisation at the stretch. Now, it is filled with shops, where one can get anything like they can at Marina Beach, said residents.
“The Lake is one of the prime areas in the locality witnessing hundreds of visitors every day. Though there were rejuvenation and development works as part of smart city development project undertaken at the waterbody, visitors count has not come down. This means the presence of only three bins and a few small steel trash cans kept there leads to the bins overflowing often. People then throw waste onto the road and in the lake. To counter the issue, we want authorities concerned to instal a few more trash cans in the lane,” said Subramani a resident.
Founder of Madipakkam Social Service Team, Saravana Kumar, said, “The bins kept at the sidewalks of Lake View Main Road are inadequate. We have conducted rejuvenation camps and plantation drives in the lake. Everytime we visit, we notice plastic bottles, plastic bags and other garbage scattered there. This is all because of lack of maintenance and inadequate bins. If both were proper, the lake would be heavenly.”