A major initiative by the Water Resources Department (WRD) to transform Chennai's Retteri Lake into the city's seventh drinking water reservoir has been stalled for two years, despite a budget of ₹43 crore. The project, launched in September 2023, faces significant hurdles from illegal encroachments and the continuous flow of raw sewage into the water body.
Ambitious Plans Meet Ground Realities
The original blueprint was comprehensive. It aimed to convert the 350-acre lake into a reservoir capable of supplying an additional 10 million liters per day (MLD) to Chennai's parched neighborhoods. Key infrastructure included constructing a 2,400-meter protection wall, a 1,100-meter see-through wall, and strengthening a 3.3-kilometer bund. The plan also involved deepening the lakebed, removing all encroachments, and plugging sewage inlets to ensure water quality.
However, on the ground, the situation remains dire. Over 100 encroachments continue to occupy the Perambur–Red Hills stretch, particularly in areas like Lakshmipuram, MGR Nagar, and Nehru Nagar. Large portions of the lake, especially along the 100-Feet Road, are covered with water hyacinth. More critically, raw sewage still enters the lake from Vinayagapuram through stormwater drains and direct pipelines.
Legal Hurdles and Missing Infrastructure
WRD Assistant Engineer S Sozharaja provided insights into the delays. While the department has managed to expand the lake's storage capacity from 32 million cubic feet (mcft) to 48 mcft in the past two years, legal battles have bogged down progress. "Residents from areas such as Nehru Nagar have gone to court and the hearing is going on. In another stretch at MGR Nagar, another group approached the Supreme Court," he stated.
Physical work is also incomplete. About 900 meters of the crucial boundary wall remains unbuilt, leaving the lake vulnerable to further illegal expansion. Encroachers have taken advantage, dumping debris and bricks to create makeshift roads on the exposed lakebed, which lacks proper bunds and banking.
Another critical component—a 2-kilometer surplus channel to carry excess water to Puzhal's channel and eventually to the Kosasthalaiyar River—is stalled due to land acquisition issues. "We are unable to acquire the private land required for the drain. Talks with landowners are ongoing," Sozharaja added.
Why Retteri Lake Remains a Priority
Despite the challenges, officials emphasize that Retteri is Chennai's most viable potential drinking-water source compared to other lakes like Ambattur, Korattur, and Villivakkam. The reason is its comparatively lower sewage load. Water was last drawn from Retteri in 2019, during a severe drought year.
For the project to succeed, coordinated action is essential. The WRD engineer highlighted that the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) must plug the sewage inflow, and Chennai Metrowater needs to build a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to make the stored water usable for drinking.
In response, Madhavaram zonal officer T K Ganesan said the corporation would look into the issue. A senior Metrowater official also confirmed the agency would review its role in the rejuvenation project. The success of this ₹43 crore push now hinges on resolving legal tangles, halting pollution, and securing inter-departmental cooperation to secure Chennai's water future.
