Tamil Nadu: Ravaged by raw sewage, Korattur lake now lies encroached

CHENNAI: The Korattur lake, already affected by untreated sewage flowing in, is facing a new threat. Encroachers have ‘marked’ large portions on the western side for ‘development’, say activists who hope it will be nipped in the bud.
Spread over 660 acres, it was one of the major water sources for several suburbs but development over the last 30 years had led to residential colonies springing up in the vicinity from where illegal outlets let sewage into it and made its water unpotable.
Cashing in, several members of political parties have started encroaching upon a portion of the lake, said a resident on condition of anonymity.

A visit by TOI to the spot on Monday found freshly laid markers for as many as 55 plots and the boundary ‘realigned’ with new stones and a coat of cement.
Also, sand was dumped to form a bund and mislead the authorities. All this development happened about 15 days ago in a portion of the lake that is generally ignored by the authorities, he said.
When contacted, engineers of the public works department (PWD) said they had received complaints about the encroachments. One petition was forwarded to police who promised to provide protection to the PWD authorities to clear the encroachments, they added. The 15 illegal houses on the lake that were not demolished when the boundaries of the lake were demarcated the last time will now be razed when the PWD takes up the task of clearing the fresh encroachments, said an official.
The PWD authorities have approached the Chennai collector who has assured them that surveyors would be sent to conduct a fresh inspection and demarcate the boundaries that will reveal all encroachments.
Earlier, the PWD had submitted a proposal to the government, detailing the measures to be taken to ecologically restore the lake. Once the government gives its approval and the water body is scientifically revived, it could once again become a major source of drinking water for residents of the numerous neighbourhoods in and around Korattur, said sources. The government has already made an announcement in this regard, the added.