Residents flag sewage discharge into Sembakkam lake via floodwater channel

Residents of Sembakkam have raised concerns over raw sewage being discharged into the Sembakkam lake through a channel bringing floodwater from catchment areas.

Spread over 100 acres, the peri-urban lake is part of the network of waterbodies linked to the Pallikaranai marshland. Though the lake has undergone some restoration efforts, the core issue of sewage pollution remains unresolved, note residents.

Residents of Sri Sarvamangala Nagar, Chitlapakkam, alleged that sewage from areas like Rajarajeswari Nagar Main Road, Haridaspuram Main Road, and Venkataraman Nagar First Main Road were linked to a channel carrying floodwater from Nanmangalam lake, Pachamalai hills, and other areas.

M. Ravi, secretary, Sri Sarvamangala Nagar Residents Welfare Association, said many streets are yet to be covered by the underground sewer network. Sewage from various streets like Vinobaji Nagar 11th Street is connected to floodwater channels to avoid overflow onto the roads. Such release of untreated sewage into the lake would lead to environmental degradation and contaminate groundwater in the area, he said.

Residents also flagged the lack of sufficient sewage pumping stations to collect wastewater in the neighbourhood. The work to construct a new facility at Thiru.Vi.Ka.Nagar is yet to be completed.

The association plans to submit petitions to various government agencies, including the Tambaram Municipal Corporation and Water Resources Department, to prevent sewage pollution in the lake, which serves as a key groundwater recharge source.

The lake is one of the 10 waterbodies chosen for restoration and lakefront development by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority. However, the project, which includes construction of a sewage treatment plant, is yet to take off.

Officials of the WRD said the department periodically writes to the civic body to curb sewage inflow into various waterbodies and would co-ordinate with local authorities on the action to be taken. The department has suggested building a drain along the lake to collect sewage in a chamber, treat it, and then release it into the waterbody.