For years, the residents of Chromepet, Thiruneermalai and Tambaram Sanatorium have been trying to draw the attention of the authorities to the pathetic condition of Veeraraghavan Eri and their pleas to rejuvenate the waterbody continues to be ignored.

D. Devaraj, who has been residing in New Colony for the past 52 years says that although Veeraraghavan Eri is a small waterbody, it is still an important source of groundwater for the neighbourhood.

“But what it is now is a sewage tank and a dumping ground. The housing board buildings do not have underground drainage connections and the outlets of the sewage lines end at the lake. Squatters along the lake use it as an open toilet and dumping ground. The lake is not dying, it is being killed due to apathy and neglect,” he says.

With the city on the brink of a severe water scarcity, the residents fear that this summer will leave them high and dry. “If the government continues to turn a blind eye to encroachments and sewage discharge into waterbodies, there will not be a drop of clean water to drink anywhere. The borewells here have already gone dry and the groundwater is already contaminated. We have submitted many petitions to the MP, Kancheepuram Collector, Thiruneermalai Panchayat, St. Thomas Mount Panchayat Union and Pallavaram Municipality over the years and neither the local bodies nor the elected representatives have made an attempt to reclaim the lake,” he adds.

The uncontrolled discharge of sewage and dumping of garbage have let water hyacinth thrive in the lake. “Water hyacinth is difficult to get rid of and it flourishes in sewage. But the authorities have not taken any efforts to arrest the sewage discharge or secure the lake bunds to prevent dumping of garbage,” says Devaraj. Social activist and president of Federation of Civic and Residents Welfare Association of Pallavaram Municipality V. Santhanam, who has been fighting for the restoration of the lake for several years, says that waterbodies in Chromepet and neighbouring areas are on their way to meet the same fate as Cooum River. A major portion of the lake has been encroached upon and the remaining area is being used as a dumping ground. “Every time we bring up the issue, the authorities have only one response: “no funds.” The government is desperately trying to draw water from quarries and other sources, while they wantonly ignore potential resources right under their noses,” he says.

Thiruneermalai Panchayat officials could not be contacted for comment.