A 150-years-old public well in Muthulakshmi Nagar in Chitlapakkam is being rid of what it has accumulated over the last three decades — huge quantities of muck and mud.
Located behind a children’s park at Muthulakshmi Nagar, Chitlapakkam, the well with a diameter of 44ft is being restored at a cost of ₹3.5 lakh.
S. Kannan, secretary, Chitlapakkam Muthulakshmi Nagar Welfare Association, says, “The first phase of the restoration began recently and trash up to a depth of five feet has been removed. Under the second phase, steps will be taken to remove the mud and the muck and the well will be desilted and deepened.
Restoration of the well can be expected to improve the groundwater table in Chitlapakkam, adds Kannan.
At present, residents receive Palar drinking water only once in 15 days and rely on tankers and can water for cooking and drinking purposes.
Residents have demanded that after the well is restored, steps must be taken to build an overhead water tank and link it to the well to ensure a supplemental supply of drinking water for the neighbourhood.
Doing so will benefit over 300 homes in the neighbourhood.