Two Tambaram Corporation lakes bear brunt of pollution, encroachment despite citizen-led efforts

Residents and environmental activists said that Veeraraghavan Eri in Chromepet and Nemilichery lake near Hasthinapuram, under Tambaram Corporation limits, continued to suffer from neglect despite years of volunteering and fund-raising.

Once reliable sources of groundwater recharge, both the lakes present a grim picture of sewage inflow, plastic waste and unchecked encroachments, with residents alleging that sustained efforts have failed to elicit a meaningful response from the civic body.

Garbage and plastic waste dumped along a stretch of Veeraraghavan Eri near 14th Cross Street, New Colony, Chromepet, with residents alleging that unchecked dumping and sewage inflow have worsened the lake’s condition. Photo: T. Arvind

Shrinking lake

Veeraraghavan Eri, a supplementary lake to Thiruneermalai Periya Eri, was originally spread over about 30 acres, but has now shrunk to nearly 10 acres due to encroachments. Several stretches of the lake, particularly near New Colony, are choked with plastic waste and sewage.

“The sewage stagnation has turned the area into a mosquito-breeding zone, posing serious health risks,” said Arun, a resident. In Lakshmipuram, poor bunds and dense water hyacinth point to ecological degradation.

Now under the Tambaram Corporation’s control, the lake was earlier maintained by the Water Resources Department. Social activist V. Santhanam, who has campaigned for restoring the lake for decades with other organisations, said immediate intervention was needed to prevent irreversible damage.

Waste accumulation and sewage stagnation seen at Nemilichery lake, where residents say earlier rejuvenation efforts have been reversed due to continued neglect. Photo: T. Arvind

Restoration gone waste

The situation at Nemilichery Lake is no different. In 2018, a citizens’ committee undertook its rejuvenation at a cost of ₹25 lakh to clear garbage and water hyacinth. The lake held water till 2021, improving groundwater levels and reducing dependence on tanker water.

“Post-restoration, the water table improved significantly and tanker usage dropped,” said S. Meenakshi Sundaram, president of the Senior Citizen Welfare Association, Chromepet East. However, after the Covid-19 pandemic, sewage inflow and dumping resumed, undoing the gains. Even a visit by the then Chief Secretary in 2022 failed to bring lasting results, residents said.

Though a sewage pump well operates near Netaji Main Road, activists allege that untreated sewage continues to enter the lake through surrounding encroachments.

Reacting to the charges, Tambaram Corporation Commissioner S. Balachandran said sewage inlets entering Veeraraghavan Eri had been identified, and nearly 300 encroachments have been mapped. Plans were under way to divert sewage through peripheral drains to a proposed Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), with treated water to be released into Thiruneermalai Periya Eri as part of a chain-link system.

He said a CSR proposal worth ₹8 crore had been placed for constructing the STPs, while ₹14.30 crore had been proposed for developing facilities around Veeraraghavan Eri. On Nemilichery lake, the Commissioner said ₹962 crore had been sanctioned for the Underground Sewerage Scheme and that a Government Order was expected shortly.

Activists said top priority should be preventing sewage from entering the lake and hoped the proposals moved beyond paperwork and translate into concrete action on the ground after years of sustained effort to revive the two lakes.