NGO begins campaign to restore waterways in city

Around 100 volunteers on Saturday morning commenced their field work and 25 volunteers in each group embarked on their mission. The volunteers were shocked to see that a few waterways were only on the map and demanded the government to inspect and remove encroachments. 

Jayaram Venkadesan, convener, Arappor Iyakkam, told DT Next that they found some waterways and lakes had been hugely occupied now. “We learnt that the channel from Pallikaranai marshland to Buckingham Canal, over a distance of about 16 km, is in shambles without any desilting having done,” he said and added that the Public Works Department (Water Resources Organisation) had claimed that they took up canal widening work at a cost of Rs 100 crore but the work was stopped midway. 

Some volunteers said they were surprised that they could not trace a lake in Pallavaram. Another volunteer alleged that the earth removed while doing Metro Rail work had been dumped in the Villivakkam lake. “It is surprising that officials who are aware of this have taken no action to protect the lake,” the volunteer said.