WRD to check feasibility of remodeling Madras Race Course land right into a water physique

The Water Resources Department (WRD) will put together a feasibility report on creating the Madras Race Course campus, Guindy, as a water physique to retailer floodwater and mitigate inundation in Velachery and surrounding areas.

The transfer comes within the wake of a directive by the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which is listening to a case regarding Velachery lake. With slim prospects of restoring the Velachery lake to its authentic storage capability, the division is exploring different options.

The State authorities had reclaimed the 118-acre land at Guindy and handed it over to the Department of Horticulture and Plantation Crops to create an eco park.

Following the NGT directive in search of a report on prospects of remodeling the land right into a water physique, the division is analyzing the potential for creating the sprawling area right into a lake, which may retailer a minimal of 30 million cubic toes (mcft) of water.

Sources within the WRD famous the division would study the feasibility of making a water physique in Guindy and assess its impression on flood mitigation. The storage capability of Velachery lake has shrunk from practically 21 mcft to a mere 4.35 mcft over the a long time. The restoration efforts, together with desilting, would assist enhance the current storage by about 50%.

Residents of Velachery urged that part of flood mitigation measures should be initiated immediately to assist them address flooding. Geetha Ganesh, secretary, AGS Colony Residents’ Welfare Association, Velachery West, stated “Water from the lake floods our space throughout heavy rains. The bund on the southern aspect of the lake should be strengthened.”

Members of TANSI Nagar Welfare Association identified the Madras High Court order associated to encroachment removing from Velachery lake was but to be accomplished. M. Balakrishnan, the affiliation’s secretary stated a number of streets in and round TANSI Nagar stay inundated for at the least 4 days throughout monsoon. “We typically endure stagnation of sewage combined rainwater. The division should desilt the macro channel in Taramani Link Road to cut back flooding this 12 months,” he stated.

Officials of the WRD stated practically 962 encroachments have been recognized thus far. The division will lengthen technical steering for the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority’s Lake restoration mission, which is predicted to start later this 12 months.

Meanwhile, sources in Horticulture Department stated the division is about to drift a young to rope in advisor to ascertain an eco-park in Guindy.