Crucial Decision Imminent on Encroachment Removal for Chennai Lake Development

The first steering committee meeting for Chennai’s lakefront and waterfront development projects, scheduled for next week, is set to make pivotal decisions regarding the removal of encroachments on key lakes such as Velachery and Adambakkam.

With civic agencies and the State government historically hesitant to tackle encroachments, new consultations with residents have begun. Residents demand the desilting and restoration of these lakes to improve flood preparedness, highlighting the drastic reduction in their size due to encroachments. Experts emphasize the necessity of balancing lakefront development with flood mitigation, advocating for increased storage capacity over creating artificial islands.