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The Hindu
28-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Students and volunteers participate in a lake clean up drive on Monday
Nearly 100 students and volunteers participated in an awareness rally and Korattur lake clean up initiative organised in the city on Monday to mark World Nature Conservation Day. Students of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research and volunteers from various areas took out a rally to create awareness on significance of restoring the water body and cleaned aquatic weeds in the lakebed. Volunteers also collected plastic waste strewn into the lake area, said KAPMI secretary. The initiative was organised by the Korattur Aeri Padukappu Makkal Iyakkam, a citizens' movement voicing for the protection of Korattur lake. It is one of a chain of water bodies linked to Madhavaram Retteri and a significant groundwater source.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Residents plan to intensify protests over unchecked sewage release into Korattur lake
CHENNAI Residents of Korattur plan to intensify their protests as sewage continues to be released into Korattur lake, a significant groundwater recharge source in the locality, through minor channels and stormwater drains. Spread over 600 acres, the waterbody, which is sandwiched between Ambattur and Retteri lakes, remains vulnerable to sewage pollution and encroachments. Residents charged that sewage was let into the lake through stormwater drains and inlets in different places, including Ondiveeran Koil Street and Karukku. a resident of Korattur, said the discharge of untreated sewage into the lake triggered rampant spread of water hyacinth and degraded the water quality. The unchecked release of sewage affected the lake's ecology and the livelihood of the fishing community in the neighbourhood. Residents noted that several representations were made to various government agencies, including Greater Chennai Corporation and Water Resources Department and protests were also held seeking comprehensive restoration of the lake. However, no concrete measures have been taken so far, they added. Members of the Korattur Aeri Pathukappu Makkal Iyakkam (KAPMI), a citizens' movement raising the voice for the rejuvenation of Korattur lake, plan to hold an agitation near Ripon Building seeking the attention of GCC officials and Mayor on the sewage pollution. KAPMI secretary, said GCC Ambattur zonal officials assured the residents to take measures to stop sewage discharge after a protest was held last month. A committee was also promised to be created to monitor and prevent misuse of the lake. 'Seemai Karuvelam', the invasive shrub (Prosopis Juliflora) has also spread over portions of the lake. 'We approached various departments to provide permission to remove the invasive shrubs. We are waiting for no objection certificate to execute the work,' he said. On residents' long-pending request to convert the waterbody into a protected bird sanctuary, the Forest department noted that the lake was under the control of the WRD and measures could be initiated only if the waterbody was handed over to the Forest department.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Residents raise concern over continued sewage release into Korattur lake
Residents of Korattur have raised concern over the continued release of sewage into the Korattur lake through storm-water drains, flagging the risk it poses to the lake's fragile ecosystem. The lake, one of the key waterbodies in the western parts of Chennai, remains a thriving habitat for migratory and resident birds. Residents and activists said the waterbody, which attracted different species of birds, also faced threat of degradation owing to sewage pollution and encroachments. S. Sekaran, secretary, Korattur Aeri Padukappu Makkal Iyakkam, said the lake was polluted with sewage entering through storm-water drains from the neighbourhoods such as Karukku and Muthamizh Nagar. This also led to unchecked growth of dense aquatic vegetation in the lake. Pollution would affect the lake's ecosystem and biodiversity as it provides a crucial habitat for birds. 'We have submitted representations to various government agencies and elected representatives to plug sewage outfalls,' he said. Residents and activists also suggested the lake, which is under the Water Resources Department (WRD), to be declared a bird sanctuary. This may enhance its ecological protection and increase revenue through eco-tourism efforts. S. Ravisankar, an amateur birder in Ambattur, who has been a birdwatching at the lake since 2016, said: 'We observed 45 species of birds earlier this week. The lake is visited by several migratory birds too. Species such as Asian Openbills congregate in large numbers. The lake is a breeding ground for resident birds such as Indian Pied Starling.' Ambattur MLA Joseph Samuel said: 'I have raised the need for lake restoration in the Assembly at least thrice. A ₹23-crore project chalked out by the WRD is in the process of getting funds. The lake needs to be desilted.' Efforts are being taken to construct an incomplete portion of a channel linking surplus water from the Ambattur lake through Pattaravakkam and Karukku to the Korattur lake, he added.
