Rejuvenating waterbodies, a huge task for Tambaram Corporation Premium

Tambaram Corporation works to rejuvenate neglected waterbodies with the help of residents and social activists.

The Tambaram Corporation, which was formed with the merger of five municipalities in 2021, has several big waterbodies as well as numerous ponds and tanks. While the big waterbodies are being maintained by the Water Resources Department (WRD), the tanks and the ponds come under the local body. Residents and social activists complain that the tanks and the ponds, which play a vital role in recharging the water table, remain neglected because of official apathy.

If the Corporation maintains the tanks and the ponds properly, it need not depend on other sources of water, the social activists say. When the Corporation taps into the water stored in the abandoned quarries at Anakaputhur and Pallavaram, it could easily rejuvenate the neglected ponds and tanks.

Some tanks are encroached upon. The residents’ welfare associations have played a vital role in protecting and maintaining a few waterbodies. Social activist V. Santhanam says the official apathy has ruined these waterbodies. He lists several waterbodies which have been handed over to the Corporation, but are in neglect. Among them are the Sitheri and Putheri (bisected by Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road); Kulakarai Street tank at Royapettah near Hasthinapuram; Veeraraghavan Eri; and the Allikulam or Irusappa Chettykulam. He says most of these waterbodies complement the big lakes, but they have been encroached upon. They need protection and restoration.

Crediting the erstwhile Pallavaram municipality with the rejuvenation of the Palkeni pond, Mr. Santhanam says several such small ponds, which are in bad shape, could supply drinking water to the residents as the abandoned quarries at Pallavaram and Moovarasampet do. Some residents of Chitlapakkam are upset that encroachments, ignored by officials, wiped out a small pond at Annai Indira Nagar. Even its outline has vanished, they say.

A senior official of the Tambaram Corporation says the civic body was formed only two years ago; therefore, the priority was for re-laying of roads, speeding up the underground drainage project at Pammal and Anakaputhur, construction of storm water drains, and dependable supply of drinking water.

At present, most of these amenities are being gradually implemented. To rejuvenate small ponds, funds are required from the government. “Work on rejuvenating waterbodies has begun. The rejuvenation of the tank on Kulakarai Street at Gowrivakkam is under way at a cost of ₹64 lakh. The work was initiated last month and will be completed before the monsoon,” the official says. Though the government provides funds under different heads for improvement of amenities, it takes time to complete the work, he adds.

The official confirms that Veeraraghavan Eri has been encroached upon. Rejuvenation could start only after removal of the encroachments, he points out.