Activists threaten protest searching for revival of inlet channel to Pikajiyappa lake in Pattukotai

Environmental activists in Pattukottai in Thanjavur district have threatened a protest over the alleged official apathy in the direction of retracing the inlet channel to the Pikajiyappa lake, which they’d restored final 12 months, within the city.

The lake, reportedly used as a rubbish dump for a number of years, was reclaimed and restored by a gaggle of environmental activists on the behest of Mega Foundation and Pattukottai Neernilai Meetpu Kuzhu.

“Garbage was being dumped within the lake for about 40 years and we eliminated over 1.50 lakh tonnes of amassed rubbish with a lot problem. The lake is now unfold over six acres and regardless that we restored it over a 12 months in the past, it’s but to get any influx because the inlet channels have silted up. We have been making an attempt to steer the authorities to assist us retrace the inlet channels with out a lot success,” stated Nimal Raghavan, founder, Mega Foundation.

According to the activists, the tank had been fed by from the Cauvery Modernisation Project Canal by a sequence of networked tanks. The Water Resources Department has reportedly requested the Pattukottai Municipality to hold out a survey and supply measurements as per the Revenue data. However, the survey is but to be carried out.

“We have made representations to numerous authorities companies. They say there isn’t a direct inlet channel to the lake; however there’s a channel networking 5 lakes. If the officers spend sooner or later and perform the survey, we will hint the channel. If they help us, we will maintain talks with locals and persuade them to clear the channel and convey our efforts to fruition,” stated M. Raja Prabhu of Pattukottai Neernilai Meetpu Kuzhu.

When contacted, a senior official of Pattukottai Municipality stated that there was no direct inlet channel to the Pikajiyappa lake, which is beneath the management of WRD. The space cited by the activists embody patta lands and pathways. It is true that the WRD has requested a survey. The surveyors would perform the train quickly, he stated.

Frustrated over the continued inaction of the authorities, the activists have introduced that they’ve deliberate to stage a protest to attract the eye of the authorities.

“We have sought permission for launching a protest signature marketing campaign searching for steps to revive the inlet channels. We wish to spotlight the necessity to restore a number of different lakes; however over the previous one 12 months we now have not been in a position to get permission for restoring lakes within the Cauvery delta,” stated Mr. Nimal Raghavan, who has restored lakes in varied components of the nation and overseas.

“We demand safety for activists engaged in lake restoration work as an try was made on the lifetime of Raja Prabhu for questioning unlawful sand mining within the space,” he added.