Residents urge swift completion of Retteri lake restoration ahead of Northeast monsoon

The Water Resources Department expects to complete the Retteri lake restoration by October.
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Residents of Kolathur and Madhavaram have sought the swift completion of the restoration work in Retteri lake, which is being developed as a buffer source of drinking water for Chennai, before the onset of the Northeast monsoon.

The lake is a vital part of the various interconnected water bodies and significant groundwater recharge source. Its excess water drains into Red Hills reservoir’s surplus course.

To convert the lake into a drinking water source, the Water Resources Department (WRD) had initiated a ₹43.19 crore project in August 2023. However, residents noted that the deadlines for completing the project had been deferred owing to pending works.

According to the WRD, the delay in clearing encroachments has pushed back the deadline. It had earlier carried out various initiatives, including creating a track to walk on in 2017.

D. Neelakannan, president, Federation of Madhavaram Residents’ Welfare Association, said: “We have been demanding rejuvenation of the neglected water body for seven years now. The neighbouring areas face the threat of groundwater depletion whenever the lake’s storage dips. Authorities must complete the work before the rainy season to improve it as a freshwater source and a bird-nesting habitat.”

He also suggested that the water body must be revived according to its original extent in the 1908 revenue maps. Residents also want Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority’s plans involving development of lakefront areas to be implemented soon.

Officials of the WRD said nearly 90% of the project, including deepening of the lake bed, forming of four artificial islands for bird-nesting, and augmenting the storage capacity from the existing 32 million cubic feet to 45.13 mcft, have been completed.

Of the total 13 lakh cubic metre of silt planned to be removed from the lake, the department has cleared nearly 12.5 lakh cubic metre of silt. This work will be completed in 10 days. Court cases had delayed the eviction process in areas like Nehru Nagar, and the construction of 800-metre compound wall along the lake.

The department has approached Chennai Metrowater to plug sewage outfalls in the lake and expects to finish the project by October.

The water agency has created infrastructure to convey raw water to the Kolathur treatment plant.