CHENNAI: Three water bodies in south Chennai, which were renovated last year, can now be used for walking at night. The city corporation is set to erect high mast lights and lamp posts, at an estimated Rs 50lakh, along the walkers’ path at the Puzhuthivakkam and Madipakkam lakes and the Arthanareeswarar temple pond in Nanganallur.
Lighting up the walkers’ path at these water bodies had been a long pending demand of residents of the areas concerned. For long, those using the walkway around the lake in Puzhuthivakkam and the one at Iyyappa Nagar at Madipakkam had been railing, unsuccessfully, that the space was being misused for consuming alcohol under the cover of darkness. Morning walkers had become accustomed to the sight of liquor bottles strewn along the walkway or thrown inside the lake.
Now, Greater Chennai Corporation’s plan to light up the walkways at the three water bodies has lightened the minds of residents who feel they can now use the space for walking at night and feel safe. M Patel, who uses the Puzhuthivakkam lake for his evening constitutional, said anti-social elements used to sit down for their ‘parties’ with liquor bottles along the dimly lit stretches as early as 9pm. Food waste and cigarette buds used to be thrown all along the walkway, he added.
One stretch of the lake at Iyappa Nagar in Madipakkam is well lit and is used by the public. Now, the dimly lit portion along Karthikeyapuram will soon be illuminated and allow residents of the area as well as people from surrounding localities to walk there at night and also use the spot for children to play.
Restoration of the Puzhuthivakkam lake began in 2018 at a cost of Rs 2.4 crore from the smart city project fund, but was soon stalled and a footpath was laid around the lake only by the end of 2019, say residents.
A corporation official said a well-lit walkway along with a play area is part of the plan for rejuvenation of water bodies and that tenders had been invited. “Illumination also adds to the aesthetics,” he said.