Lakes

Public memory and paper records are what activists rely on today, but GIS mapping of lakes would provide more information and help citizens play a role in conservation.

Water bodies across the city have suffered the impact of encroachment and discharge of sewage and effluents. The fate of Korattur Lake is no different. Read the Tamil translation of our article on the slow demise of this vital water body.

Water bodies in North Chennai have disappeared over the last three decades to rampant commercialisation and encroachment. Read the Tamil version of our reportage on the issue here.

Water crisis is not in the news now. But in two months, fifty thousand houses surrounding Korattur lake are likely to be struggling for water because the lake is polluted yet again, and the concerned authorities do not seem to be looking at long term solutions seriously.

Out of 3,000 water bodies in Chennai city, 210 have already been taken up for restoration. The work entails desilting as well as removing water hyacinth and garbage in the water bodies. Here are more details about the same.

Chennai Corporation has collaborated with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to restore the Villivakkam Lake, using waste water treated through a special technology. We spoke to J Daniel Chellappa, Senior Scientist at BARC, to know more about the plans and the larger implications.

An eco park at Paruthipattu Lake is due for inauguration. But with restoration work causing raw sewage to enter the lake, citizens are least cheered by the prospect of a boating facility and more worried about groundwater contamination in this time of acute water scarcity.

DMK’s Principal Secretary TR Baalu has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Sriperumbudur constituency for the fifth time. He defeated PMK’s A. Vaithilingam.

A look at the environmental issues that Chennai faced since the 2014 national elections, through the camera lens.

As part of a CSR project, TAKE Solutions has collaborated with EFI to scientifically revive three ponds by strengthening their bunds and regulating the inlet and outlet channels.

The operational and maintenance cost of the two functional desalination plants is exorbitant, while it is possible to procure the same yield in the form of treated water from lakes, ponds and quarries at one fourth the cost. Why, then, is Chennai looking at a third plant?

Naturally blessed with hundreds of lakes and ponds, the city of Chennai can easily improve its ground water levels by restoring these water bodies. Here are two success stories of pond rejuvenation projects that could inspire other neighbourhoods in the city.