Prioritizing Function Over Form: Residents Call for Practical Solutions for Sembakkam Lake

Chennai residents living near Sembakkam Lake are advocating for restoration efforts that prioritize increased water storage capacity over aesthetic enhancements. Highlighting the urgent need to desilt the lake, remove encroachments, and prevent sewage pollution, residents emphasize the importance of practical solutions for addressing longstanding challenges.

Concerns about groundwater recharge and sewage diversion are paramount, with residents urging government agencies to focus on effective measures rather than recreational amenities. Calls for demarcating the lake’s boundary, forming protective bunds, and relocating infringing facilities underscore the community’s determination to safeguard the lake’s ecological integrity.

Despite past interventions, including collaboration with organizations like Care Earth Trust, residents are adamant about the necessity of sustained efforts to revive the lake’s functionality and mitigate environmental degradation.