Chetput aeri

Chetput lake
Chetput lake
Location	Chetput, Chennai, India
Coordinates	Coordinates: 13°04′27″N 80°14′33″E / 13.07412°N 80.24238°E
Type	Pond
Basin countries	India
Surface area	15 acres
Settlements	Chennai

Chetput lake is a lake spread over 15 acres in Chetput, Chennai, India. It is located to the north of Chetput railway station. It is the only existing lake at the centre of the city. The lake belongs to the Department of Fisheries of the Tamil Nadu government.^[1]

Of the total area of the lake, the waterbody is spread across nearly 9 acres. An anglers club was functioning till the 1940s in the lake, whose members visited the small island in the midst of the waterbody for fishing.^[2]

Although not used for drinking purposes, the lake was a source of groundwater recharge for the surrounding areas. As the water quality is not saline, the lake has a few varieties of fishes such as rohu, catla and mrigal. Breeding is monitored to assess the water quality.

The lake today

In recent years, the lake has been heavily encroached upon, particularly near the Chetpet railway station. There have been many plans to rejuvenate Chetpet lake since the mid-1990s, including developing a boat club, an aquarium, seafood stall and fish court besides a walkway around the waterbody. The last attempt to save the lake was in 2005, when the state environment department identified it along with 12 other lakes of Greater Chennai area for an eco-restoration project. The CPR Environmental Education Centre conducted a detailed survey, and based on that, the state government appointed the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Finance Services Limited to prepare a project report.^[3] The State government had sanctioned ₹ 4 million to clean the overgrown water hyacinth and desilt the lake in 2007-2008.^[2]

Developments

In May 2012, the Chennai Corporation Council adopted a resolution to construct a 1,475-m-long stormwater drain from the lake to the Cooum river at a cost of ₹ 22.9 million to carry excess water during monsoon. The drain would pass through New Bhoopathy Nagar, Pachaiappa's College play ground and Venkatachalapathy Street. This is to prevent flooding in the Kilpauk Medical College area.^[4]

A building to house a stall of the Fisheries Development Corporation is also coming up by the side of the lake at a cost of ₹ 60 million. The three-storey building will comprise two fish heads, facing north and west, joined by a fin and a tail. The heads will be made of light-weight material. The building will accommodate the offices of the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation, Tamil Nadu State Apex Fisheries Cooperative Federation and the chief engineer of the fisheries department.^[5]

In April 2013, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa announced developing the lake with facilities for angling, water sports, boating and open-air auditoriums at a cost of ₹ 420 million. The lake shore will have an eco park with tracks for walkers and joggers and children's play area, in addition to a seafood restaurant^[6][7] and multilevel parking space to accommodate 200 cars. Parts of the project include an elevated link between Chetpet railway station and the eco park, infrastructure connecting Poonamallee High Road with the park, and construction of a box culvert beneath the railway tracks to connect the lake with Cooum River near Spur Tank Road. The park is being planned in a 15-acre area adjoining the lake.^[8] The foundation stone for the park was laid in June 2014.^[9]

Gallery

• 
• 
• 

See also

• Water management in Chennai

References

1. "Two major projects in fisheries sanctioned in Chennai". The Hindu (Chennai: The Hindu). 15 January 2014. Retrieved 18 Jan 2014.
2. Lakshmi, K. (30 April 2009). "Hyacinth robbing Chetpet lake of life". The Hindu (Chennai: The Hindu). Retrieved 13 Nov 2011.
3. Janardhanan, Arun (9 November 2011). "Last lake in the heart of the Chennai may die soon, a victim of official inaction". The Times of India (Chennai: The Times Group). Retrieved 13 Nov 2011.
4. Ramakrishnan, Deepa H. (11 May 2012). "Chetpet lake may become tourist attraction". The Hindu (Chennai: The Hindu). Retrieved 11 May 2012.
5. John, Ekatha Ann (15 September 2012). "Giant fish to rise near Chetpet Lake". The Times of India (Chennai: The Times Group). Retrieved 17 Sep 2012.
6. "Tamil Nadu plans to introduce sport-fishing, boating on Chennai's Chetpet lake". Business Line (Chennai: The Hindu). 5 April 2013. Retrieved 6 Apr 2013.
7. Lopez, Aloysius Xavier (6 April 2013). "Lifeline for Chetpet Lake". The Hindu (Chennai: The Hindu). Retrieved 6 Apr 2013.
8. Lopez, Aloysius Xavier (10 December 2013). "Chetpet lake eco-restoration all set to take off". The Hindu (Chennai: The Hindu). Retrieved 22 Dec 2013.
9. "சேத்துப்பட்டு ஏரியில் 42 கோடியில் பசுமைப் பூங்கா: ஜெயலலிதா அடிக்கல் நாட்டினார்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil) (Chennai: Maalai Malar). 28 June 2014. Retrieved 10 Aug 2014.

External links