Save Perumbakkam Lake — a residents’ forum for protecting the waterbodies in Perumakkam — was born incidentally when a group of residents were about to promote source segregation of waste across the locality.
Srividhya Giridharan and Kalai Arasi, known for sensitising residents’ groups, especially gated communities, in Perumbakkam to source segregation of waste, are said to be among the first residents to have mooted the idea of forum for waterbodies. Soon, ‘Save Perumbakkam Lake’ was born as a WhatsApp group.
Under the aegis of the newly-formed forum “Save Perumbakkam Lake”, residents of Perumbakkam and members of the Federation of Perumbakkam Residents’ Welfare Associations are working together towards restoration of Perumbakkam Sitheri.
Perumbakkam Sitheri is not to be confused with the Perumbakkam Lake (which is known as Perumbakkam Periya Eri, in an obvious reference to its sprawl). In contrast, Perumbakkam Sitheri is much smaller in dimensions and located on Nookampalayam Road near Varadapuram. Perumbakkam Sitheri is just hop, skip and a jump away from Perumbakkam Periya Eri.
In the first phase of restoration, which got under way recently, a good number of residents as well as groups engaged in environmental work are clearing the waterbody of trash and plastics.
Before the started the work on Perumbakkam Sitheri, members of Save Perumbakkam Lake received guidance from resource persons from Environmentalist Foundation of India and Chitlapakkam Rising.
K. Sarangadass, a key member of Save Perumbakkam Lake, says, “Steps will be taken soon to desilt and deepen Perumbakkam Sitheri and strengthen its bunds."
The waterbody is one of the main source of ground water for the residents of Perumbakkam. This is the apt time to restore the water-body. If desilted, and deepened, ground water level will get recharged, resident point out.
At present, residents of Perumbakkam are heavily dependent on water tankers. The residents buy water through tankers and store it in the sumps.
A clean-up of Perumbakkam Sitheri is conducted every Sunday at 7 a.m.. Volunteers are requested to assemble at 6.45 a.m. at Varadapuram, located near the lake bund.