Chennai
The restoration of lakes and water bodies can lead to an improved ecosystem in a city that is trying to find the right road to sustainable growth.

When rains lashed Chennai last year, attention was drawn to the state of the water bodies in the city. It was an eye-opener to the fact that Chennai was losing its catchment areas that could have held the water better. But soon after the disaster was a success story that brought a lot of cheer.

Spread across 15 acres, the Chetpet lake was cleaned up and restored to its former glory, this time, with a park, multi-level car parking and boat rides. This is a pointer to the need for similar efforts in other parts of the city.

Dr S Suresh, Tamil Nadu state convenor, INTACH, says that more than two centuries back, when Chennai was full of villages, each village had its own water body. “With increasing urban development, many water bodies have shrunk or have vanished. It’s important to maintain the temple tanks and lakes to recharge our water tables and maintain the ecosystem,” he says.

But restoring a water body isn’t an easy task, as explained by Arun Krishnamurthy, founder, Environmentalist Foundation of India. “Getting to know the boundaries of the lake and revival techniques that need to be drawn, keeping in mind the urban encroachments are the biggest challenges. Spending more time in the field and understanding the lakes better gives us a clearer idea on restoring each lake differently. One cannot have a template restoration model,” he says.

Organisations like Chennai City Connect and Care Earth have worked on similar projects for many years, most notably in areas like Pallikarnai, Madhavaram and Korattur. The restoration activities in some areas have met with ample success in the recent past.

“The Madambakkam lake, Mudichur Seekana Eri, Keezhkattalai, Arasankazhani are lakes which we have been constantly working on and have received support from the residents and local government. The effort will give us better results and increase public participation in conserving Chennai’s ecology,” says Arun, who feels that realtors can play an important role in this regard.

“The developers need to be careful in understanding the landscape which includes the catchments, drain points and water holding areas, where one does not build or dump debris. Builders should ensure not to let out their sewage into the nearby water bodies and should consider initiating a dialogue with the government to scientifically restore a lake near their property.”

Efforts have begun from the developer community in this direction. “Developers would like to contribute to such initiatives where there is an opportunity,” says Ajit Chordia, MD, Khivraj Estates Ltd, citing the case of restoration activities in a village near Navalur.

“The land parcel was dry but as per the land records, it was a kuttai, or a water body. When we were developing our project there, we took into consideration this kuttai and planned for its revival. We took over the kuttai from the local panchayat and directed all the rain water into it. We created recharge pits, which now helps in retaining the water table now. For the last three years, the kuttai has not dried out,” he says.

Suresh Krishn of Isha Homes cites another instance of efforts carried out by them with the Perumbakkam water tank. “We undertook cleaning and beautification of the water body and also did maintenance for a few years.It has now been handed over to the association. We need the support of the local authorities to carry out these works. While on one hand this comes under the ambit of CSR, it helps if developers work on it so that the ground water in the vicinity of their projects get recharged.

The entire ambience of the locality improves,” says Krishn, saying that the system should be conducive for efforts like these.”The system should allow people to undertake efforts like these. In fact, we would like the civic authorities to invite us and develop and area. Credai is willing to undertake restoration of lakes. But political will is required to enhance security in such areas and remove unauthorised obstructions,” he says.

However, Arun feels that efforts cannot be replicated as is as every project is unique. “The Chetpet lake model is unique to that lake. Each lake needs to be conserved for its temperature regulation and ground water stabilisation,” he says.

Arjun Narayanan, Times Property, The Times of India, Chennai