Eco-restoration of three lakes in Chennai now enters final phase

CHENNAI:The eco-restoration of the Korattur, Retteri and Ambattur lakes by the Public Works Department has entered the final phase. The 59-crore project, which was launched in 2014, is expected to be completed by March 2019. According to officials in the PWD, the three lakes will boast walkways on two sides, and bird nesting arrangements on completion of the project.

Currently, as part of the final phase, concrete blocks are being placed on the upstream side slopes of Ambattur and Korattur lake to prevent erosion of the bund which was strengthened in the previous phases. “This will ensure the restoration efforts which have been going on over the last few years don’t go to waste,” said an official from the PWD involved in the restoration efforts.

Earlier, the PWD had removed hyacinth, deepened the three lakes and placed walkways lined with granite as part of the first phase at a cost of `20 lakhs.In the second and third phase, the PWD had build bird-nesting areas near the lake bunds and removed hyacinth at a cost of `26 crores.

However, officials claim they would have to relay sections of the granite walkways as part of the fourth phase as locals had stolen them in 2017.Evictions of encroachments along the three lakes continue to remain a problem for the Public Works department. However, arrangements are being made to prevent the entry of sewage into the lakes from the encroachments.