6 months ago
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Retteri lake, identified arsenic 1 of Chennai’s buffer sources of drinking water, has reached afloat retention this monsoon aft its caller restoration. In a bid to boost the lake’s ecological health, solar-powered aerators are being installed, and plans are afoot to present much eco-tourism initiatives done collaborative efforts.
The lake, which belongs to a concatenation of waterbodies, plays a important relation successful flood management, and is simply a important root of groundwater recharge. Spread implicit 400 acres, the waterbody present has an enhanced retention capableness of 50 cardinal cubic feet (mcft) against its erstwhile capableness of 32 mcft, an authoritative said.
To person the water into a drinking h2o source, the Water Resources Department implemented a ₹43.19 crore that included works to deepen the vessel bed, fortify foreshore bund, and signifier 3 artificial islands.
As a measurement to guarantee the semipermanent sustainability of the lake, the section has collaborated with Environmentalist Foundation of India — a voluntary organisation progressive successful water conservation efforts — to instal 8 solar-powered aerators to amended the h2o quality. Talks are nether mode to measurement up plantations connected the islands and acceptable up instrumentality depository connected the lines of Keelkattalai lake.
Arun Krishnamurthy, founder, EFI, said the aerators were being installed adjacent the islands and sites, wherever nutrient load deposits would beryllium more, to curb the maturation of h2o hyacinth. There is scope to adhd 2,000 trees on the lake, including the walkway that leads to 1 of the islands.
A presumption of the Retteri lake, which covers 5.42-million quadrate feet, successful Chennai connected Tuesday, | Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
Another connection to acceptable up a instrumentality depository showcasing the lake’s features is besides awaiting support from the WRD.
While welcoming the restoration efforts, residents said that immoderate halfway problems specified arsenic sewage and encroachments needed attention.
J. Ravi of Kilburn Nagar, Madhavaram, said the water was a superior root of groundwater for areas specified arsenic Madhavaram, wherever h2o is disposable astatine a extent of 20 feet. While it presents a cleaner and scenic look, the authorities indispensable forestall sewage contamination and make the water into an eco-tourism spot.
Officials of the WRD said the section was coordinating with Chennai Metrowater to plug sewage outfalls and widen the underground drainage web to surrounding areas. The h2o bureau already has infrastructure successful spot to proviso 10 cardinal litres a time of h2o from the lake.
Encroachment removal successful the lake’s foreshore areas has been suspended owed to pending tribunal cases.
