Chennai's Putheri Lake Restoration Stalls Amid Sewage and Encroachments
Nearly one full year has passed since authorities announced a major restoration plan for Putheri lake in Chennai. The 3.4 crore project aimed to revive this freshwater body along the city's Radial Road. Today, the lake continues to suffer. Encroachments, sewage inflow, and unchecked dumping plague the area.
Partial Work Leaves Major Problems Unaddressed
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority floated the tender last year. The plan covers 10.45 acres of lake area. Workers have completed only partial restoration so far. A recent visit revealed a mixed picture on the southern side.
Officials cleared water hyacinth from that section. However, they left the main inlet point blocked with a concrete step. Sewage inlet points remain wide open. The water resources department did not desilt the excess water outlet towards Keelkattalai lake.
This neglect caused serious issues. Plastic waste, rubbish, and stagnant sewage now fill the causeway. The situation creates a visible environmental hazard.
Northern Side Becomes Open Dumping Ground
The northern side of Putheri Lake presents an even grimmer scene. Sewage completely fills this section. Water hyacinth overruns the surface. Local residents use the area as an open dumping ground.
No restoration work has begun here at all. A road runs along this northern side, leading to a private college. Thousands of students and residents use this route daily.
This entire stretch now serves as a dumping site for meat waste and household rubbish. The accumulating waste raises significant health concerns for the community.
Activists Point to Systemic Failures
Civic activist David Manohar highlighted a critical oversight. He stated that CMDA started restoration work without first removing encroachments. Tambaram Corporation officials issued notices last year to more than 25 houses. These structures encroach upon land that rightfully belongs to the lake.
"Action should be taken by the corporation and CMDA," Manohar emphasized. He believes authorities must address the encroachment issue directly.
Environmental activist Darwin Annadurai founded the Eco Society of India. He questioned the logic of the current approach. "There is no use restoring the lake without ceasing the sewage inlet point," Annadurai explained.
He noted that workers removed water hyacinth. However, he warned it will grow back much faster when clean water constantly mixes with sewage. The root cause of pollution remains untreated.
Officials Promise Phased Restoration
CMDA officials responded to these concerns. They confirmed the 3.4 crore budget covers restoration on both the north and south sides of Putheri Lake. Their current plan follows a phased approach.
Authorities will first complete restoration on the southern side. Then they will seal the sewage inlets. Only after that will work begin on the troubled northern section. The timeline for this full process remains unclear to local residents.
The lake sits next in the chain after Pallavaram Periya Eri along the 14.3-kilometer Radial Road. Its continued deterioration affects the broader water system. Community members wait for concrete action to match the announced plans.
