1 week Ago By Vivek Narayanan
Chennai: Till 2010, residents of Medavakkam collected water from the Chinna Eri lake. However, over the years, unchecked encroachments, garbage dumping, and the discharge of untreated sewage turned the waterbody into a picture of neglect. In the coming months, however, it may finally see a revival.
Spread across five hectares, Medavakkam Chinna Eri is located in Survey No. 174 in Chengalpet district. During summer, when the lake dried up, public and authorities alike began treating it as a dumping ground for garbage and sewage, worsening its degradation.
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"Now, the waterbody is choked with hyacinth. Poultry shops and local residents also dump their waste into the lake," he said. Arjun Shankar recalled that during Cyclone Michaung in 2023, the area was severely submerged.
"Following the disaster, we launched a campaign and submitted a detailed representation to the state chief secretary in May 2024. Yet, no concrete action has been taken so far," he said. Recently, officials from the Medavakkam revenue department, including the village administrative officer (VAO), removed a minor encroachment after persistent petitions from the community.
However, residents stressed that piecemeal actions are insufficient, and only a comprehensive eco-restoration effort can prevent further encroachments and mitigate flooding risks. Citizens are urging the authorities to undertake a full-scale restoration of Medavakkam Chinna Eri; reconnect its surplus channel to Pallikaranai marsh to restore natural water flow and install a sewage treatment plant (STP) at the inlet to prevent untreated sewage from polluting the lake. A block development officer said the revenue department will soon conduct a survey to demarcate the lake boundary.
"Following this, EFI, an NGO, will desilt the lake, strengthen the bund, and deepen the waterbody. The sewage inflow will be clipped, and an STP is being planned," the official said..
