Chennai: A once muddy, garbage-strewn four-acre plot in Valasaravakkam is now a sprawling lake and will soon be converted into an eco-park offering a recreational experience to people.
The Valasaravakkam and Porur districts, home to more than 500,000 residents, faced constant flooding, with water reaching knee-deep near metro workplaces. This regularly led to riots on the busy Porur-Vadapalani route.
Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) found a solution to the citizen problem last month by converting an abandoned private property into a three-acre pond. It is now gushing over 1.5 million cubic feet of water. Located just 200 meters from Arcot Road on First Main Road in Valasaravakkam, the pond will soon be converted into an eco-park at a cost of ₹5 crore.
The Subramania Venkateshara Swamy pond has several tree islands for birds and a raised dam to keep out intruders. In the future, GCC will build sidewalks and parking spaces, landscaping, an open-air theater, pavilions and toilet facilities on an area of one hectare.
Deputy Commissioner for Works V Sivakrishnamurthy said residents from 13 streets of the area, including Jai Nagar and Sairram Nagar, have come forward to find a solution. “We then identified this unused private land. We contacted the owners and took possession of the land. In about a month the pond was dug up,” he said.
The pond that captured water runoff from streets will have catch channels to filter out SWD water, allowing the rest to enter the pond. Chief Engineer S. Rajendiran said they would also allow boating facilities like Chetpet Lake. “It will be monetized and can improve the tourism aspect in this area, which otherwise has to travel long distances,” he said.
The residents demanded construction of boundary walls at the western end of the pond. “The pond has no boundary walls. People throw garbage from the balconies of houses, and intruders can also spread in deserted corners. They will also have to install arches, gates and appoint a guard,” said K. Sivasankaran, a resident of Sairram Nagar.