Retteri lake work in full swing, to be over before monsoon
CHENNAI: The Water Resources Department (WRD) has hastened the work to rejuvenate and enhance the capacity of Retteri lake in the western suburbs of Chennai. Once completed, the storage in the lake would help augment water supply to Kolathur and surrounding areas while also reduce inundation in the vicinity of the waterbody.
The work had commenced in September 2023, but was affected by the northeast monsoon. Now, as the water level has gone down, it has picked up pace.
"The lake’s storage will be increased to 45 million cubic feet (mcft) from the present 33 mcft. Also, various works will be carried out to improve the lake, including desilting, bund strengthening, compound wall construction, and island formation,” a senior WRD official told DT Next.
As part of the works, the department has issued eviction notice to 55 houses that have encroached on the lake bund. The drive to remove these structures would be undertaken soon, said the official.
Apart from adding yet another source to meet the drinking water requirement, increasing the storage of the 400-acre lake would also help reduce the inundation of the neighbourhood during the monsoon.
Most of the work, especially capacity augmentation, is expected to be completed before the northeast monsoon. The remaining works, such as construction of the compound wall and other beautification work, will be finished by next March, the official said.
Once the works are over, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) would draw 10 million litres a day (MLD) from it to meet the drinking water requirements in the residential areas of Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and Ambattur (zone 6 and 7, respectively).
The Rs 21.39-crore Retteri modernised water treatment plant was inaugurated by Chief Minister MK Stalin on July 31. A Metro Water official said before initiating the project, the sample from the lake was sent for testing and results said it was potable.