Residents of Mamallapuram demand that the Poigai Kulam Lake needs to be cleaned immediately and that they are willing to do it themselves if the local body fails to step in.
Residents of Mamallapuram removing plants in the Poigai Kulam Lake
Chennai:
Recently, social activists in the locality joined together and formed an organisation called Mallai Neernilai Safety Organization. On behalf of the organization, they filed a petition to the local body but the local body washed their hands and claimed that the lake comes under PWD. “We even visited PWD officials and filed a petition. The officials have said that the government has allocated 6.5 lakh for cleaning the lake last year but still no steps has been taken,” said a member of the organisation.
Following that the public decided to clean up the lake themselves. L Udayakumar, Legal advisor of the organization, said, “The officials stopped the work saying that it belongs to the government and we would loot the sand from the lake.”
Udayakumar claimed that they are still seeking permission to clean up the lake but no response from officials. An official from PWD, however claimed that the lake comes under local body. “Now, following the demand we have taken over and the work to clean it has begun. The government has allocated the funds and we would start the work soon.”
Mamallapuram is one of the famous tourist spots in the country. Many people from different countries would visit the place to look at the beauty of Mamallapuram especially its sculptures.
Locals claimed that the Poigai Kulam lake which was built from the Pallava rule has now become useless. The lake was once the main source of water for the villagers but due to the lack of maintenance in the past years, the lake has now become unusable.
Recently, social activists in the locality joined together and formed an organisation called Mallai Neernilai Safety Organization. On behalf of the organization, they filed a petition to the local body but the local body washed their hands and claimed that the lake comes under PWD. “We even visited PWD officials and filed a petition. The officials have said that the government has allocated 6.5 lakh for cleaning the lake last year but still no steps has been taken,” said a member of the organisation.
Following that the public decided to clean up the lake themselves. L Udayakumar, Legal advisor of the organization, said, “The officials stopped the work saying that it belongs to the government and we would loot the sand from the lake.”
Udayakumar claimed that they are still seeking permission to clean up the lake but no response from officials. An official from PWD, however claimed that the lake comes under local body. “Now, following the demand we have taken over and the work to clean it has begun. The government has allocated the funds and we would start the work soon.”
Mamallapuram is one of the famous tourist spots in the country. Many people from different countries would visit the place to look at the beauty of Mamallapuram especially its sculptures.