Residents, NGOs be a part of palms to clear seemai karuvelam at Korattur lake

A portion of the long-neglected Korattur Lake is ready to get a facelift as residents and non-government organisations have collaborated to take away invasive vegetation, Prosopis juliflora (seemai karuvelam) since Monday (July 13, 2026).

Belonging to a series of water our bodies that drain into Retteri, the Korattur lake stays a big supply of groundwater recharge and haven for resident and migratory birds.

In a bid to enhance the lake surroundings, Korattur Aeri Pathukappu Makkal Iyakkam (KAPMI), a residents’ motion voicing for the lake restoration, joined palms Exnora Worldwide and residents to take away invasive vegetation from alongside the lake close to Karukku. The initiative follows the Madras Excessive Courtroom directive to eradicate invasive species and approval from the Chennai Collectorate, mentioned residents.

Members of KAPMI famous that the vegetation is being eliminated alongside the water physique, which was encroached upon. There are plans to plant native tree species, together with cluster fig within the cleaned portion alongside the lake.

The work is being carried out with the company social accountability (CSR) fund from Lucas-TVS. Whereas volunteering work to scrub the lake’s periphery is being carried out each week, residents state that the waterbody continues to be affected by sewage air pollution.

S. Sekaran, KAPMI’s secretary, mentioned a chook census performed together with the State Forest Division recorded almost 162 chook species on the lake, making it a most popular vacation spot for chook watchers. Regardless of the Nationwide Inexperienced Tribunal’s southern bench directive to arrest untreated sewage launch into the lake, the air pollution continued into the water physique.

Member of the KAPMI had additionally made a illustration to Ambattur MLA G. Balamurugan, who inaugurated the initiative, to declare the Korattur lake as a chook sanctuary. Residents additionally harassed on desilting and deepening the lake to extend its storage capability and arrest sewage air pollution. Additionally they needed encroachments to be cleared from the lake.