Lakes

வரும் கோடை காலத்தில் ஏற்ப்படவுள்ள குடிநீர் தட்டுப்பாட்டை எதிர்கொள்ள சென்னை எவ்வளவு தயாராக உள்ளது?

Groundwater levels around the city have dropped to their lowest in years, lakes have shrunk and major reservoirs are running dry: Chennai stares at a parched few months ahead, though rainfall over 2018 was actually higher than in 2016. What explains the present situation?

Civic authorities, NGOs, corporate organisations and domain experts have all come together to identify and work on restoring these water bodies with active community participation. It is hoped that this will prevent recurrence of a 2015-like urban flood.

The uncontrolled flourishing of water hyacinth in Chennai’s lakes and ponds speaks volumes about the health of these water bodies. What causes this infestation and what has the Corporation done to check it?

Volunteers participated in the clearing the plastic off the bed of Nemilichery’s lake. In one of the most heart warming scenes, many senior citizens participated in the clean up to save the lake for their next generation.

Medicinal herbs, edible greens and fruits thrive in and around Chennai’s Sembakkam lake, reveals a study. Apart from their usage, the fact that an urban waterbody could be so rich and diverse in terms of beneficial plant species is very heartening.

Toilets by the shore, illegal sewage pipes draining into stormwater drains, debris dumped secretly — A citizen journalist’s trip to the Vannankuttai in GKM Colony reveals the sordid tale of how Chennai is losing its precious waterbodies.

Don’t cry, even though the systematic destruction of Chennai’s lakes, rivers and waterbodies by the steady inflow of sewage is something that would stir every thinking citizen’s heart. A poignant photo-essay by two citizen photographers.

Art exhibitions, lake festivals, safaris and citizen engagement in the commons along water bodies — Chennaiites are coming together to raise awareness about water management and conservation in different ways.

That most of Chennai’s water bodies are contaminated by sewage is common knowledge, but what exactly is lacking in the sewerage management infrastructure that makes this possible?

For activists and officials clearing encroachments in Chitlapakkam Lake, it was heartening to find a good number of people rising above blind religious belief to support the environmental cause.

As part of their attempts to revive the Chitlapakkam Lake, NGO Arappor Iyakkam, with the help of the Chitlapakkam Rising group and local residents, conducted a social audit of the lake. Bhavani Prabhakar captured a few pictures during the event.