Chennai, Jun 18 (IANS): The 200-acre Pandeswaram lake rejuvenation project in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu will be completed by October 2022. The lake is getting spruced up after years of neglect.

The Tiruvallur district administration in association with Water Resources Department of Tamil Nadu and an NGO, Environmental Foundation of India, have come together for the rejuvenation of the lake.

The lake is among the 75 water bodies that are being restored by Tiruvallur district administration under the 'Oor Koodi Urani Kappom' scheme of Tamil Nadu government. The Jal Shakti Mission of the Central government is also chipping in for the project.

The weeds inside the water body are being removed and the bund area of 2.1 km is also being strengthened. During the rejuvenation of the lake, the weir that allows surplus water to flow out of the lake would be repaired and maintained. Encroachments are removed and the boundary of the lake will be demarcated.

The lake has been a source of irrigation and supports brick kiln industries in the area.

Environment Foundation of India officials told IANS that the lake, after proper rejuvenation, could be a source of water supply to the adjoining municipal corporations. The NGO is planning to provide eight subsurface pockets or recharge shafts for optimum water storage.

Once rejuvenated, the lake could be a source of groundwater recharge, and with improved storage capacity, it can control floods in the downstream areas.

Sources in the Pandeswaram Panchayat told IANS that around 60 acres of the lake has been recovered from agricultural encroachments. The administration is in the process of removing structures that were built within the lake. According to sources in the Tiruvallur district administration, 45 structures are to be removed.

The Pandeswaram Panchayat is planning to convert the lake and adjacent areas into a recreational spot, given its proximity to Avadi and Red Hills.