Areas around Sembakkam lake spared from floods

Restoration project and construction of a flood regulator pay rich dividends

Some areas in the southern suburbs were spared of waterlogging during the recent heavy rain, thanks to the ongoing restoration work at Sembakkam lake.

Spread over 100 acres, the lake faced several challenges, inlcuding encroachments and sewage pollution. It did not have a defined supply channel and surrounding localities were waterlogged whenever the lake filled up.

However, areas such as Chitlapakkam and Sri Sarvamangala Nagar were not warlogged during the recent rain because of the ongoing eco-restoration work. The project is being implemented jointly by the Nature Conservancy India, the Care Earth Trust and IIT-Madras with permission from the Water Resources Department (WRD).