STATUS OF WATER TANKS SURROUNDED BY PALLIKARANAI MARSH

STATUS OF 31 WATER TANKS SURROUNDED BY PALLIKARANAI MARSHPallikaranai Marsh:It is located at the South Eastern sub urban areas of Chennai city. It is situated adjacent to the Bay of Bengal, about 20 kilometres South of the City Centre and has a geographical area of 80 sq.kms.

It is the only surviving wetland ecosystem of the city and is among the few and last remaining natural wetlands of South India.

It is bounded by Velachery in north Medavakkam in south Kovilambakkam in west Okkiyam Thuraipakkam in east.

The Pallikaranai marsh drained about 250 sq.km through two outlets - Okkiyam Madavu (channel) in Okkiyam Thuraipakkam and Kovalam Creek.NETWORK OF TANKS AND PML31 tanks are located at the West, South and Northern catchment area of the marsh release the surplus water during rainy seasons to the marsh. They are Velachery Tank, Nanganallur Tank, Adambakkam Tank, Ullagaram Tank, Puzhuthivakkam Tank, Trisulam Tank, Moovarasampettai Tank, Madippakkam Tank, Kilkattalai Tank, Nanmangalam Tank, Hasthinapuram Tank, Nemilichery Tank, Kovilambakkam Tank, Pallikaranai Tank, Kovilambakkam Thangal, Narayanapuram Tank, Pallikaranani Anai Eri, Pallikaranani Chitteri, Rajakilpakkam Tank, Medavakkam Tank, Jalladiyanpettai Tank, Perumbakkam Tank, Arasankazhani Anicut Thangal, Arasankazhani Tank, Sittalapakkam Tank, Sholinganallur Tank, Chitteri, Ottiyambakkam Tank, Navalur Tank and Agaramthen Tank.

Present status of these tanks:Preliminary field work was conducted to study on GPS co-ordinates of lakes Water level Bird Diversity Abundance of weeds in the water bodies Usage of water bodies & Current threat to the water bodies. 1.Velachery tank: Location : Lat: 12.988496, Long: 80.212960.Water level : Approx 20 feet. Weeds : 60% of lake is covered by Water hyacinth Bird Diversity : Little Grebe, Common Coot, Pond Heron and Barn Swallow were found.Usage of tank : Dumping of garbage and debris were found on both sides of the lake. Domestic sewage was found polluting the lake. Outlet of the lake has been completely closed by the dumping of garbage and plastics.Current threat : Discharging all wastes in to the lake.

2. Nanganallur Tank: Location : Lat: 12.98709, Long: 80.18435Water level : Approx 4-5 feet. Weeds : Fully covered by Water hyacinth Bird Diversity : Pond Heron, Common Myna, House Crow, White breasted king fisher, Pied Bush chat, Cormorant, Jungle crow and Blue rock pigeon were found.Usage of tank : Dumping of garbage and debris were found around the lake. Domestic sewage is found polluting the lake. The tank is being utilized by the people mostly for washing and bath and excessive fishing.Current threat : Shrinkage of lake due to encroachments. Discharging all wastes in to the lake.

3. Adambakkam Tank:

Location : Lat: 12.98885, Long: 80.21514.Water level : Approx 15 feet. This lake is the extension of Velachery Tank due to developmental activitiesWeeds : No weeds were found.Bird Diversity : No bird sighting.Usage of tank : No usage of water by the people. Current threat : Inlet of the tank is dumped by plastic wastes. Hence the water is being contaminated.

4. Ullagaram Tank:Location : Lat : 12.97857, Long : 80.19328. Current Threat : Due to the developmental activities, we could not find the tank.5. Puzhuthivakkam Tank: Location : Lat: 12.97171, Long: 80.20084. Water level : Approx 20 feet. Bird Diversity : White Browed Wagtail, Pond Heron, Little Cormorant, Little Grebe, Ashy Prinia, Black drango, Common myna, Little Egret, White Breasted King Fisher, Lesser pied King Fisher, Large Cormorant, Blue Rock Pigeon ,White Breasted Water hen and House crow were sighted .

Usage of tank : The lake is fully bounded with well conditioned bund, green cover is good. Fishing and domestic usage of water is found. One end of the lake is dumped with garbage and debris. Current threat : Discharging all wastes in to the tank.

6. Meenambakkam Tank:

Due to the development activities, we could not find the tank.

. 7. Trisulam Tank:Location: Lat: 12.96968, Long: 80.17285

Water level : About 10 ft and approximately 500m length

Bird Diversity: Little cormorant, little egret, pond heron and spotted dove were very less in numbers.Usage of tank : Domestic usage by the workers is noticed.

Current Threat: One side of the lake is polluted by stone crushing units and their encroachments. Hence stone dusts from the crushing units are being deposited and diluting in the lake which leads the lake to disappear.

8. Moovarasampettai Tank:

Location: Lat: 12.96378, Long: 80.18051.Water level : About 8 feet & approx 1000m length.Bird Diversity: Blue tailed Bee Eater, Spotted Dove, Yellow Wagtail, Indian Roller, Shikra, Little Cormorant, Pond Heron, Barn Swallow, Blue Rock Pigeon and Pied Bush chat are found in good numbers.Usage of tank :Current Threat : Burning of plastic wastes. Letting out of domestic sewage into the lake.

9. Madipakkam Tank:

Location: Lat: 12.96457, Long: 80.19115.Water level: About 15 feet.Bird Diversity : Darter, Median Egret, Rose Ringed Parakeet, Cattle Egret, White Browed Wagtail, Pond Heron, Black Drango, Little Cormorant, common myna, Little Egret, Lesser pied King Fisher, Blue Rock Pigeon and House crow were sighted in good numbers.Usage of Tank : Lake has been fenced and bund is being maintained well by Residents Welfare Association.Current Threat : Fishing & domestic sewage polluting the lake is noticed. Plastic wastes were found scattered.

10. Kilkattalai Tank:

Location: Lat: 12. 95055, Long: 80.17786.Water level : Approximately 15 feet.Bird Diversity : Small Blue Kingfisher, Glossy Ibis, Little Grebe, Common Coot, Gull Billed Tern, Green Bee Eater, Pond Heron, Little Cormorant, common myna, Little Egret, Cattle Egret , White Breasted King Fisher, Lesser pied King Fisher, Large Cormorant, and House crow were sighted in good numbers.Usage of Tank : The lake is bifurcated due to Medavakkam Radial Road. Unauthorized private water supply companies pumping out water from the tank. Washing of heavy vehicles, excessive fishing & domestic usage (bathing and washing etc) are noticed.Current Threat : Dumping of Plastic wastes and debris around the bund.

11. Nanmangalam Tank:

Location: Lat: 12.93631, Long: 80.16527.Water level : Around 20 feet.Weeds : 10 to 15% of the lake is covered by water hyacinth.Bird Diversity : Pheasant tailed jacana, Spot billed Pelicans, Purple Moorhen, Common Moorhen, Red wattled Lapwing, Black Drango, Common Coot, Gull Billed Tern, Blue tailed Bee Eater, Whiskered Tern, Pond Heron, Little Grebe, Little Cormorant, common myna, Little Egret, White Breasted King Fisher and House crow were sighted in good numbers.Usage of Tank: Lake is well protected surrounded by bund and outlet is also well maintained. This lake water is being used for nearby ayacut lands.Current Threat : Domestic sewage and garbage dumping causes the pollution to the lake.

12. Hasthinapuram Tank:

Location: Lat: 12.94314, Long: 80.15826.Current Threat : The lake is encroached almost fully and this is the last remaining portion of the lake.

13. Nemilichery Tank:

Location: Lat: 12.94639, Long: 80.15585.Water level : Around 12 ft in the centre of the lake and the remaining portion is surrounded by huts and houses.Weeds : 80% of the lake is covered by water hyacinth.Bird Diversity : Bird life is very less. Few Pond Heron, Common coot, Little Grebe, Purple Moorhen and Common Myna were found.Usage of Tank & Threat: The lake is being used as their backyard for dumping garbage and domestic sewage.

14. Kovilambakkam Tank:

Location : Lat: 12.944209, Long: 80.189250Water level : About 4 to 5 ft.Bird Diversity : White Browed Wagtail, Pond Heron, Little Cormorant, Little Grebe, Ashy Prinia, Common Myna, Little Egret, Blue Rock Pigeon, White Breasted King fisher, Lesser pied King Fisher, Whiskard Tern, Barn Swallow, Palm Swift, Jungle crow and House crow were sighted.Usage of Tank & Threat : The tank is being used as garbage dumping yard. Large number of vehicle washing pollutes the water. Domestic sewage is another threat to the lake. During surplus period, the outlet will be active to reach Pallikaranai marsh lands.

15. Narayanapuram Tank:Location: Lat: 12.94867, Long: 80.20309.Water level : About 3 to 4 feet.Bird diversity : Pond Heron, Little Cormorant, Little Grebe, Common Myna, Whiskard Tern, Black Dragon, Common Coot and House Crow were noticed. Usage of Tank : Vehicle washing, bathing, excessive fishing, garbage dumping, letting out of domestic sewage has been noticed.

Current Threat : The lake is bifurcated by Medavakkam Radial Road. Due to this separation, the wetland area has been shrunken. Though the lake is very near to Pallikaranai Marsh, it has been separated from the marsh due to the development activities.

16. AGARAMTHEN TANK:

Location : N 12.88270, E 80.14735. Water level : Approx. 3 to 5 ft. Length 2.25Km & breadth 4km.Weeds : Fully covered by a kind of weeds.Bird diversity : White Browed Wagtail, Pond Heron, Common Myna, Little Cormorant, Ashy Prinia, Plain Prinia, Sun Bird, Bull Bull, Rose ringed Parakeet, Black Drango, Munias, White Breasted King Fisher, Lesser pied King Fisher, Blue Rock Pigeon, White Breasted Water hen,, Small blue king fisher, Yellow Wagtail, Palm Swift and House crow were sighted.

Usage of Tank : During the surplus period the water is being used for irrigation purposes.Current Threat : Dumping of garbage and debris were found around the tank. Domestic sewage was found polluting the tank and discharging all wastes in to the tank. Outlet of the tank is good during surplus period only. The tank should be cleaned up. Fishing, Cloth washing and highly human activities leads a great threat.

17. Pallikaranai Anai Eri:

Location: N 12.93423, E 80.19481

Water level : 20 ft at one point but the remaining area is found dry barren land and becomes cattle grazing. The length of the tank is around 2Km and breadth is 2km. Bird diversity : Common Myna, House crow, Large Egret, White breasted king fisher, Cormorant, Black Drango and Jungle crow were found.

Usage of Tank : The tank is being utilized by the people mostly for vehicle washing, washing cloths and bathing.

Current Threat : Since the whole area is surrounded by real estate promoters, the dumping of garbage and debris were found around the tank.

18.Pallikaranai Chitteri:Location: N 12.93423, E 80.19481

Bird diversity : Bird life is nil at the time of visit.

Current Threat : The lake bund is completely encroached and the total area has been eaten away by the encroachers. It has been used as backyard for their garbage dumping.

19.Arasan Kazhani Anaicut:Location: N 12.88046, E 80.20002.Water level : About 4 to 5 feet. But the water level is not same at all places since uneven deepening and bund raising.Bird Diversity : Paddy field pipit, Cattle egret, Little Grebe, Purple Moorhen, Purple Heron, Asian Koel, Red Wattled Lapwing , Pond Heron, Little Cormorant, Rose ringed Parakeet, Black Drango, common myna, Lesser pied King Fisher, Blue Rock Pigeon, Small Blue king fisher and House crow were sighted. Usage of Tank : During rainy season, the surplus water is utilized by the people for irrigation purposes. Even in the dry season, the water is pumped out for irrigation purposes. Current Threat : The Anaicut is surrounded by high raised buildings and the sewage from these buildings is being discharged into this Anaicut. Dumping of garbage and debris were found around the anaicut. Burial ground is also situated in the bund.

20. Arasan Kazhani Thangal:Location: N 12.87778, E 80.19936.The water level : Approx. 7 to 8 feet and found uneven deepening. Bird Diversity : Spotted Dove, Red Wattled Lapwing, Indian Roller, Red vented Bull Bull, Black Drango, common myna, White Breasted King Fisher, Blue Rock Pigeon, Small blue king fisher and House crow were sighted. Usage of Tank : This water is being pumped out for irrigation purposes continuously. One side of the Thangal is surrounded by well raised bund. Current Threat : Dumping of garbage.

21. Jalladaiyanpettai Tank:Location : N 12.91649, E 80.20162.Water level : About 5 to 6 feet. Weeds : 60% of the lake is covered by water hyacinth and floating vegetation.Bird Diversity : Cattle egret, Little Grebe, Little Egret, Crow Pheasant, Common Koot, Grey Headed Babbler, Pelican, Red Wattled Lapwing , Pond Heron, Little Cormorant, Black Drango, Common myna, Lesser pied King Fisher, Rose Ringed parakeet, Blue Rock Pigeon, and House crow were sighted.Usage of tank : ---Current Threat : Human encroachments are found in one side of the lake and domestic sewage is found letting out in to the lake.

22.Medavakkam Tank:Location: N 12.92449, E 80.119303.Weeds: The whole lake area is completely covered by water hyacinth.Bird Diversity : Little Egret, Blue Rock Pigeon, and House crow were very less in numbers.Usage of Tank : During the surplus period the water is being used for irrigation purposes.Current Threat : Domestic sewage is letting out into the lake is noticed which leads to polluted water.

23. Ottiyambakkam Tank:Location: N 12.85853, E80.19523.Water level : The length is around 1.5km and breadth is about 1.25km . A patch of water is found in the centre of the lake.Bird Diversity : Indian Roller, Swallow, Pond Heron, common myna, Little Egret, and House crow were sighted.Usage of Tank : During surplus period, the water will be utilised through the well constructed sluice for the irrigation purposes.

Current threat : ---,

24. Rajakilpakkam Tank :Location: N 12.92112, E80.15184.Water level : 6 to 8 feet at the centre. Weeds : Most of the area is completely covered by water hyacinth.Bird Diversity : White breasted king fisher, Barn Swallow, Sun Bird, Purple Moorhen, Pied Bush chat, White browed Wagtail, Pond Heron, Lesser pied King Fisher were sighted.Usage of Tank : -Current Threat : Human encroachment and letting out of the domestic sewage and dumping of all kind of garbage. Outlet of the lake has been totally closed. Hence there is no water movement from the lake.

25. Perumbakkam Tank :Location : N 12.90006 , E 80.19268Water level : Approx. 5-6 feet. Bird Diversity : Open Billed Stork, Indian Moorhen, Red Wattled Lapwing, Purple Sun bird, Small Blue Kingfisher, Bushlark, Asian Koel, Blue Rock Pigeon, Rose winged Parakeet, Common Coot, Pond Heron, Little Cormorant, Little Grebe, common myna, Little Egret, Lesser pied King Fisher, Cattle Egret, Jungle crow, and House crow were sighted.Usage of Tank : During the rainy season, the surplus water is utilised for agriculture purpose.

Current Threat : The Perumbakkam lake is comprised of Chinna eri and Periya eri. Both the water bodies are completely exploited due to letting out of domestic sewage, cloth washing and fishing. Dumping of Plastic wastes and debris are found.

The southern end of Pallikaranai marsh lands receives fresh water from this water body which plays a major role to maintain the rich diversity of PML. Therefore this water body must be protected and to be conserved.

26. Sithalapakkam Tank :Location: N 12.89959, E 80.18434.Water level : Around 8 -10 feet. Bird Diversity: Pelican, Domestic Duck, Wagtail, Red Wattled Lapwing, Blue Rock Pigeon, Rose winged Parakeet, Common Coot, Little Cormorant, Lesser pied King Fisher and House crow were sighted.Usage of Tank: During the rainy season, the surplus water is utilised for agriculture purpose. Cloth washing and fishing.Current Threat : Letting out of domestic sewage and dumping of garbage. Study should be conducted whether any kind of pollutants are letting into the lake by the nearby oil industry.

Since this water body is very much adjacent to Perumbakkam lake, this water body which plays a major role to maintain the rich diversity of PML. Therefore this water body must be protected and to be conserved.

27. Sholinganallur Tank:Location: N 12.89759, E 80.22180.Water level : Around 2-3 feet. Bird Diversity : Little Grebe, Spot-Billed Pelican, Little Cormorant, Indian Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Purple Heron, Large Egret, Median Egret, Cattle Egret, Indian Pond Heron,Black Crowned Night Heron, Black Bittern, Yellow Bitten, Painted Stork, Asian Open-Bill Stork, Glossy Ibis, Oriental White Ibis, Eurasian Spoonbill, Large (Fulvous) Whistling Duck, Lesser Whistling Duck, Spot Bill Duck, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Garganey , Comb Duck, Common Teal, Black shoulder kite, Western Marsh Harrier, Shikra, Common (Black) Kite, Osprey, White-Breaster Waterhen, Purple moorhen, Moorhen, Common Coot, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Yellow Wattled Lapwing, Red Wattled Lapwing, Black Tailed Godwit, Black Winged Stilt, Common Tern, Blue Rock Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Pied Crested Cuckoo, Asian Koel, Asian Palm Swift, Small Blue King- fisher, White Breasted Kingfisher, Lesser Pied King fisher, Small Green Bee Eater, Blue Tailed Bee Eater, Chestnut Headed Bee Eater, Indian Roller, Barn Swallow, Ashy Prinia, Plain Prinia, Blyths Reed Warbler, Common Myna, Black Drongo, House Crow, Jungle Crow, Oriental Pranticole, Cinnamon (Chestnut) Bittern, Rose-Ringed Parakeet were sighted.

Usage of Tank : This lake is the vital place of feeding ground for almost all the birds in the PML. This lake also provides fresh water to the southern end of PML during rainy season which helps to enhance the rich diversity of PML.

Current Threat : The lake is being used as their backyard for dumping garbage and domestic sewage by the adjacent flats residents.

Sholinganallur TankContd: