Visitors to Chitlapakkam lake face parking, sewage concerns

Chennai: Despite restoration work around Chitlapakkam lake, the parking area continues to remain in a poor condition. Every morning, around 400 people visit the lakeside for walking, exercising, and carrying out community activities. In the absence of a designated parking facility, visitors are forced to park their vehicles on the opposite side of the side entrance, where raw sewage flows in the open. Visitors and neighbours said they had submitted hundreds of complaints to civic authorities over the past several months, demanding a proper parking space and plugging of the sewage outlet. No action has been taken.
Chitlapakkam lake has emerged as a popular public space for residents of Chromepet and East Tambaram, after water resources department carried out desilting and restoration work. The renovated facility was inaugurated in early Jan, nearly six years after restoration work began.Residents raised concerns about illegal sewage discharge near the lake's second inlet gate too. They said sewage from nearby residential buildings is being diverted into the rainwater catchment area. Only an earthen bund prevents sewage from entering the lake. When it rains, sewage overflows into the lake, posing health and environmental risks. The catchment area is clogged with plastic waste.Resident activist Dayanand Krishnan said lack of parking has worsened traffic congestion. "Though a parking lot was part of WRD's restoration plan, it never took shape. At least 200 vehicles are parked along the road every day, choking the nine-foot road, making it difficult for ambulances to pass," he said. Despite repeated attempts, WRD officials were unavailable for comment.