More room for water, more space for wildlife

Kadapakkam Lake in Manali has been restored to protect wildlife habitats and retain more floodwater in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The Greater Chennai Corporation stated that it finished the restoration work under a project costing ₹58.31 crore, which received funds from the Asian Development Bank and a grant from the Global Environment Facility. Spread across 55 hectares, the water-holding capacity of the lake increased to 1.90 million cubic metres after the removal of seven lakh cubic metres of silt. The project also strengthened 2.5 kilometres of bunds, repaired inlet and outlet channels, and added a butterfly park and a two-hectare bird island. Voice of North Chennai Residents Welfare Association president Shanmugam Kottiswari stated that storing rainwater in lakes benefits the city, adding, “Rainwater should be stored in lakes, which will benefit the city and help prevent flooding.” Greater Chennai Corporation deputy commissioner (works) S Saravanan stated that the civic body also carried out beautification and infrastructure projects worth ₹200 crore while removing encroachments. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is likely to open the restored water body to the public.