Perungudi Lake Restoration: Residents Urge WRD to Clear Water Hyacinth Before Monsoon

The Perungudi Lake Area Neighbourhood Environment Transformation (PLANET) forum has urged the Water Resources Department (WRD) to take immediate steps to restore and clean Perungudi Lake before the upcoming monsoon.

The forum has called for dredging, deepening and removal of water hyacinth from the lake, which has been facing growing environmental problems. Members said they have waited nearly 25 years for restoration work and have been forced to manually remove water hyacinth themselves due to delays in official action.

Sewage Discharge and Illegal Dumping Raise Concerns

Residents have also raised concerns over the damaged perimeter wall around the lake. The broken sections reportedly allow residents and commercial establishments to dump waste along the lake bunds and into the water.

According to PLANET members, Perungudi Lake was once used for irrigation. However, its condition has deteriorated due to the continuous discharge of sewage through the stormwater drain (SWD) network on the southern side of the lake.

The forum has urged authorities to rebuild the damaged perimeter wall or install fencing to prevent further dumping and protect the lake.

₹10-Crore Perungudi Lake Rejuvenation Project

PLANET secretary P Sajeevan said a ₹10-crore Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the rejuvenation and beautification of Perungudi Lake was prepared in 2025.

According to him, forum representatives met the consultant in April 2025 to discuss the proposed rejuvenation plan, but no further updates have been received.

He also pointed out that while the lake is located within the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) limits and its bunds are maintained by the Corporation, desilting comes under the WRD. The forum has suggested that the GCC could take full ownership of the lake to ensure coordinated restoration work.

Lake Area Shrunk Due to Encroachments

PLANET joint secretary R Prem Anand said the lake originally covered around 50 acres, but its area has now reduced to approximately 35 acres due to encroachments.

Residents have urged the concerned departments to work together to demarcate the lake boundaries, remove encroachments and clear water hyacinth before the monsoon.

Trees along the lake bunds were reportedly cut as a precaution before Cyclone Vardah. However, subsequent rainfall loosened the soil, causing portions of the perimeter wall to collapse and creating gaps along the boundary.

Residents also reported a recent incident in which a dead dog was dumped into the lake. It was removed on Saturday after multiple complaints were filed through the GCC 1913 helpline.

A senior WRD official said water hyacinth would be c cleared once general maintenance works begin. The official also said the current status of the ₹10-crore Perungudi Lake rejuvenation project would be checked with senior officials.