Chennai, July 12 (BPNS)
The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department has floated tenders for the restoration of twin lakes in Chennai and the work is likely to commence by August once the tenders are finalized.
The twin lakes commonly known as Retteri lake is to be desilted and cleared of encroachments. A senior official of the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department told BPNS that an invasive species of water hyacinth which reduces oxygen supply and creates breathing difficulty for fish has occupied a large portion of the twin lakes. These water hyacinths, according to the official is also a breeding ground for mosquitos.
The twin water bodies comprise of Madhavaram inlet channel and Manali lake and according to Water resources department officials, an amount of Rs 44 crores have been sanctioned for the restoration of the lakes.
According to officials, a portion of the lake is occupied by 40 illegal structures and these have to be removed first. On the western side, the department will construct a wall for a distance of 3km and to prevent garbage dumping. Towards the eastern side, pillars will be installed and a fence erected.
The water level in the twin water bodies is presently at 32 million cubic feet and the water resources department will dig deep to increase the holding capacity to 45.13 mcft.
It may be noted that the 1 million liters of water a day (1 MLD) was pumped from the twin lakes by the Metrowater to its Kolathur plant and from their water supplied to the houses in the vicinity of the lake. However, this is not being done due to illegal encroachments and dumping of garbage in the lake.
Sources in the Water Resources Department told BPNS that after the restoration work is completed water will again be pumped to the Kolathur plant and after treatment supplied to locals in the vicinity of the two lakes.
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