A view of the unremoved water hyacinth weed and garbage at Nemilicherry Lake in Chrompet on Friday.
| Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ

Nemilichery lake, lying at the far end of Chromepet, was once the focus of a community-led revival. Around 200 determined residents poured in funds from their own pocket to bring the dying lake back to life. Between 2018 and 2021, the lake did indeed brim with rainwater. However, since then, it has slowly slipped into neglect, once again, turning into a sewage pool overrun by a choked mat of water hyacinth.

During a recent visit, only a small silver of water shimmered under the noon sun, with boundaries of the lake littered with plastic bags, empty water bottles, food waste, and clothes strewn around.

S.M. Govindarajan, president of United Federation of Residents’ Welfare Association, who contributed Rs. 1 lakh from his own savings to the pre-pandemic lake rejuvenation effort, says it is high time the 4D model- deflect, drain, desilt and deepen is adopted, similar to the restoration of Chitlapakkam lake. “We need to first prevent sewage from entering the lake before we think about beautification projects, which is why building a deflector should be the first step,” he said.

What is back in question now is the lake’s critical role in groundwater recharge. Back when residents of Chromepet and neighbouring localities received water supply only once in five days, the residents of the area took matters into their own hands and started the rejuvenation of Nemilichery lake pre-pandemic, where in 2018, excavator machines were brought in to scoop out years of plastic build-up in the lake. This lake rejuvenation committee members also raised about 25 lakhs for the same at the time.

“Several lakes including Nemilichery and many others across Tambaram and Pallavaram are encroached upon, polluted, and poorly maintained,” says senior activist V.Santhanam. “We fail to realise that the absence of basic infrastructure such as name boards, information boards at the lakes, and fixed boundaries has opened the door for unchecked encroachments,” he said, adding the collective efforts now feel like water down the drain.

When contacted, Tambaram Corporation commissioner, S. Balachander said: “Regarding the Nemilichery lake, we have prepared a detailed project report and it is in a final shape. We are about to send it to the government for further fund sanctions, after which the work will begin soon,” he said, also adding details about the 750 crore underground drainage project covering Madambakkam, Sembakkam, and Chitlapakkam. “Once that project is also completed, Nemilichery lake will not receive sewage water from adjacent areas. The lake will be completely revamped and redeveloped, and put into use for common public,” he added.