Decade-Long Struggle Leads to ₹2 Crore Arafath Lake Restoration

On November 13, 2025, the Avadi Municipal Corporation announced the launch of a ₹2 crore restoration project for the Arafath Lake, a major groundwater source for Thirumullaivoyal. This comes after nearly a decade-long struggle by local residents and citizen groups to revive the 26.40-acre lake.

The lake, which is part of the chain of waterbodies on Chennai's western fringes, has long been plagued by issues like sewage pollution and solid waste dumping. In a bid to transform it into an eco-park similar to the Paruthipattu lake, the civic body is drawing funds from various sources, including MP and MLA Local Area Development funds, Corporate Environment Responsibility Fund, and its own special fund.

The first phase of the project will prioritize works like desilting, bund strengthening, and the creation of a 2.9-km-long promenade. The aim is to rejuvenate the lake as a source of groundwater recharge and a flood buffer space. Authorities also plan to ensure the functioning of a nearby sewage treatment plant and plug illegal sewage outlets to address the lake's pollution challenges.

In the subsequent phases, the civic body intends to add recreational facilities like children's play areas, open-air gyms, yoga centers, and libraries. There are also plans to create a vending zone and viewpoints around the lake.

Welcoming the initiative, local residents have urged the authorities to take measures to arrest the ongoing sewage pollution, as the groundwater in the area remains of poor quality despite being available at a shallow depth.