Residents of Chitlapakkam complain of Sembakkam lake, one of the major water bodies in the city’s southern fringes, continuing to be easy target for sewage pollution through stormwater drains and mushrooming encroachments in its periphery.

Spread over 110 acre, the lake is a major source of groundwater recharge in the locality. Though interventions were made in the past, including restoration efforts along with Care Earth Trust, more efforts are required for complete restoration, according to residents.

M. Ravi, secretary, Sri Sarvamangala Nagar Residents’ Association said raw sewage from places like Vinobaji Nagar 11th Street and Thiru.Vi.Ka. Nagar is being released into the lake through stormwater drains. Lorries too decant sewage into the drains leading to the waterbody.

Encroachments in the periphery of the lake have been mushrooming over the past year. The Tambaram corporation and Water Resources Department have identified encroachments in Hasthinapuram. Though a case was pending in the National Green Tribunal, southern zonal bench, restoration efforts have been progressing at a snail’s pace.

Chitlapakkam Residents Associations Coordination Committee has also represented to various government agencies and Chief Minister on the need to cover Chitlapakkam with underground sewerage network to prevent sewage pollution in water bodies.

Residents wanted restoration efforts of the lake to be accelerated and sewage to be decanted to nearest sewage treatment plants. They also demanded inlet channels, including the one from Pachamalai hills, to be widened for better inflow into the lake.

Officials of the WRD noted that encroachments in the lake’s boundary are being identified and steps are being taken to issue notices. “We have approached Tambaram corporation to take action against sewage pollution into the lake,” said an official.

The department has also speeded up work to construct a Rs. 26 crore channel to carry surplus water from Sembakkam lake to Nanmangalam lake. The channel would have a capacity to carry nearly 1,250 cubic feet per second of water. The work would be completed in March, the official said.