CHENNAI: After the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and Water Resources Department pulled up Tambaram corporation to clean up the sewage-ridden Madambakkam lake, the local body is working to restore the lake for 6 crore. Currently, the lake water is chlorinated and supplied to Chitlapakkam residents.
"We have asked them to plug the sewage inlets in Madambakkam lake and ensure the water is not polluted," said WRD official Mahendra Kumar.
The TNPCB reported that the coliform level is 340MPN (most probable number), while it should be zero as per CPCB standards, citing that the water is not potable.
"We have appointed a project consultant to restore the Madambakkam lake. They have identified 13 inlets that illegally discharge sewage into the waterbody. We will be working to revive seven other lakes in Tambaram. We have currently submitted the proposal to the government," said Tambaram corporation commissioner R Alagumeena. The inlets will be intercepted and diverted to a nearby pumping station, which will be connected to a sewage treatment plant, she added. But she did not mention a deadline.
Tambaram will also be getting 26MLD water from the 150MLD desalination plant in Nemmeli in another six months. "Most of the supply will go to Chitlapakkam," said Alagumeena. To verify coliform presence, the corporation has given the water from the lake to test at the King Institute in Guindy.
"I am aware of the pollution in the lake. We are awaiting the results from the Institute," said East Tambaram MLA S R Raja at a local association event in Chitlapakkam on Sunday.
People living near the lake are also suffering from groundwater pollution due to the illegal sewage discharge.
"My entire family has amoebiasis, and the doctor said that polluted water is the issue. We use borewell water for our consumption," said Priya B, a resident at Madambakkam.