After nearly a decade of protests by residents and citizen groups, the Arafath Lake in Thirumullaivoyal is poised for restoration at a cost of ₹2 crore. The Avadi Municipal Corporation launched the project on Wednesday, aiming to revive the key groundwater source plagued by pollution. Minister S.M. Nasar and MP Sasikanth Senthil laid the foundation stone for the eco-park initiative.
The Arafath Lake, spanning 26.40 acres and located abutting Chennai-Tiruvallur High Road on the eastern side, forms part of the chain of waterbodies on Chennai's western fringes. Its surplus water flows into the Ambattur Lake, but the site has long suffered from sewage pollution and solid waste dumping, compromising its role as a major groundwater source for Thirumullaivoyal.
Launched under a scheme funded by MP and MLA Local Area Development funds, the Corporate Environment Responsibility Fund, and the civic body's special fund, the restoration seeks to model the lake after the Paruthipattu eco-park. R. Saranya, Commissioner of Avadi Municipal Corporation, outlined a phased implementation. "The restoration project would be implemented in a phased manner," she said. The first phase prioritizes desilting, bund strengthening, and a 2.9-km-long promenade to enhance groundwater recharge and serve as a flood buffer.
Challenges include encroachments and sewage discharge from areas like Manikandapuram and Saravana Nagar not yet connected to the underground sewerage network. Ms. Saranya noted that the corporation would ensure the sewage treatment plant near the lake functions properly and block illegal outlets. Future phases plan recreational amenities such as a children's play area, open-air gyms, yoga centre, library, vending zone, and viewpoints.
Residents from Srinivasapuram welcomed the move but stressed the need to curb sewage pollution, pointing out that while groundwater is accessible at 5-10 feet depth, its quality remains poor. S. Sundaramurthy, president of Puzhal Eri Arafath Eri Pathukappu Makkal Iyakkam, highlighted past protests and urged, "The authorities must ensure that the lake is improved without compromising on its storage capacity. A regulator must be fixed in the weir near Chozhambedu Main Road to control the flood discharge."