CleanupBot II at 20:37, 13 August 2023

2023-08-13T20:37:24Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Chetpet lake
| image = Pond at Chetput.JPG
| caption = Chetpet lake
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = [[Chetpet]], [[Chennai]], [[India]]
|pushpin_map=India Chennai
| coords = {{Coord|13.07412|N|80.24238|E|display=title}}
| type = [[Pond]]
| inflow =
| outflow =
| catchment =
| basin_countries = India
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|16.1|acre|abbr=on}} (Angling pond: 3.10 acres; Boating pond: 6 acres)
| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation =
| islands = 1
| cities = Chennai
}}

'''Chetpet lake''' (Chethupattu Aeri) is a lake spread over 16 acres in [[Chetput]], [[Chennai]], [[India]]. It is located to the north of [[Chetpet railway station]]. It is the only existing lake at the centre of the city. The lake belongs to the Department of Fisheries of the Tamil Nadu government.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Two major projects in fisheries sanctioned in Chennai
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 15 January 2014
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/two-major-projects-in-fisheries-sanctioned-in-chennai/article5578664.ece
| access-date = 18 Jan 2014}}</ref>

Of the total area of the lake, the waterbody is spread across 9.1 acres and the land area covers 6.9 acres. An anglers club was functioning till the 1940s in the lake, whose members visited the small island in the midst of the waterbody for [[fishing]].<ref name="HyacinthRobbingLakeOfLife">{{cite news
| last = Lakshmi
| first = K.
| title = Hyacinth robbing Chetpet lake of life
| location = Chennai
| date = 30 April 2009
| url = http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/30/stories/2009043059710300.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090503091818/http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/30/stories/2009043059710300.htm
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 3 May 2009
| newspaper = [[The Hindu]]
| access-date = 13 Nov 2011}}</ref>

Although not used for drinking purposes, the lake was a source of [[groundwater recharge]] for the surrounding areas. As the water quality is not [[Saline water|saline]], the lake has a few varieties of fishes such as [[rohu]], [[catla]] and [[mrigal]]. Breeding is monitored to assess the water quality.

==History==
In 1934, the lake was taken over by the Department of Fisheries to conduct research. In the following decade, a hydro-biological research station was set up to conduct studies in fisheries. Fishing as a sporting activity began at the lake with the formation of Madras Anglers Club in 1962. In the dry summer months of 2019, about 4,500 cubic metres of silt was dredged. These were used to strengthen the bund.<ref name="Hindu_LakeBustlingAgain">{{cite news
| last = Madhavan
| first = D.
| title = Chetpet lake bustling once again with sports activities
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| pages = 6 (DownTown)
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons
| date = 25 October 2019
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chetpet-lake-bustling-once-again-with-sports-activities/article29786689.ece
| access-date = 28 October 2019}}</ref>

==The lake today==
In recent years, the lake has been heavily encroached upon, particularly near the [[Chetpet railway station]]. There have been many plans to rejuvenate Chetpet lake since the mid-1990s, including developing a boat club, an aquarium, seafood stall and fish court besides a walkway around the waterbody. The last attempt to save the lake was in 2005, when the state environment department identified it along with 12 other lakes of Greater Chennai area for an eco-restoration project. The CPR Environmental Education Centre conducted a detailed survey, and based on that, the state government appointed the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Finance Services Limited to prepare a project report.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Janardhanan
| first = Arun
| title = Last lake in the heart of the Chennai may die soon, a victim of official inaction
| location = Chennai
| date = 9 November 2011
| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-09/chennai/30377547_1_chetpet-lake-fisheries-department-eco-restoration-project
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103112345/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-09/chennai/30377547_1_chetpet-lake-fisheries-department-eco-restoration-project
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 3 January 2013
| newspaper = [[The Times of India]]
| access-date = 13 Nov 2011}}</ref> The State government had sanctioned {{INR}} 4 million to clean the overgrown [[water hyacinth]] and desilt the lake in 2007–2008.<ref name="HyacinthRobbingLakeOfLife"/>

==Developments==
In May 2012, the Chennai Corporation Council adopted a resolution to construct a 1,475-m-long stormwater drain from the lake to the [[Cooum river]] at a cost of {{INR}} 22.9 million to carry excess water during monsoon. The drain would pass through New Bhoopathy Nagar, [[Pachaiyappa's College]] play ground and Venkatachalapathy Street. This is to prevent flooding in the [[Kilpauk Medical College]] area.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Ramakrishnan
| first = Deepa H.
| title = Chetpet lake may become tourist attraction
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 11 May 2012
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3405557.ece
| access-date = 11 May 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Map of Chetpet Lake.png|thumb|Map of Chetpet Lake and Eco Park]]
A building to house a stall of the Fisheries Development Corporation is also coming up by the side of the lake at a cost of {{INR}} 60 million. The three-storey building will comprise two fish heads, facing north and west, joined by a fin and a tail. The heads will be made of light-weight material. The building will accommodate the offices of the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development Corporation, Tamil Nadu State Apex Fisheries Cooperative Federation and the chief engineer of the fisheries department.<ref>{{cite news
| last = John
| first = Ekatha Ann
| title = Giant fish to rise near Chetpet Lake
| location = Chennai
| date = 15 September 2012
| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-15/chennai/33862671_1_giant-fish-chetpet-lake-fisheries-department
| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103104707/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-15/chennai/33862671_1_giant-fish-chetpet-lake-fisheries-department
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 3 January 2013
| newspaper = [[The Times of India]]
| access-date = 17 Sep 2012}}</ref>

In April 2013, Chief Minister [[J. Jayalalithaa]] announced developing the lake with facilities for angling, water sports, boating and open-air auditoriums at a cost of {{INR}} 420 million. The lake shore will have an eco park with 1.5-km long track for walkers and joggers and children's play area, in addition to a seafood restaurant<ref>{{cite news
| title = Tamil Nadu plans to introduce sport-fishing, boating on Chennai's Chetpet lake
| newspaper = Business Line
| location = Chennai
| publisher = The Hindu
| date = 5 April 2013
| url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/jayalalithaa-announces-water-sports-eco-park-at-chetput/article4584919.ece
| access-date = 6 Apr 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| last = Lopez
| first = Aloysius Xavier
| title = Lifeline for Chetpet Lake
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 6 April 2013
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/lifeline-for-chetpet-lake/article4585628.ece
| access-date = 6 Apr 2013}}</ref> and multilevel parking space to accommodate 200 cars. The eco-park is dotted with 30 stone sculptures.<ref name="Hindu_LakeBustlingAgain"/> Other facilities include acupressure walkway, elevation aquarium, 3D film show, and a virtual reality centre on marine life.<ref name="Hindu_LakeBustlingAgain"/> Parts of the project include an elevated link between [[Chetpet railway station]] and the eco park, infrastructure connecting [[Poonamallee High Road]] with the park, and construction of a box culvert beneath the railway tracks to connect the lake with [[Cooum River]] near Spur Tank Road. The park is being planned in a 15-acre area adjoining the lake.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Lopez
| first = Aloysius Xavier
| title = Chetpet lake eco-restoration all set to take off
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| date = 10 December 2013
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chetpet-lake-ecorestoration-all-set-to-take-off/article5441203.ece
| access-date = 22 Dec 2013}}</ref> The foundation stone for the park was laid in June 2014.<ref>{{cite news| title =சேத்துப்பட்டு ஏரியில் 42 கோடியில் பசுமைப் பூங்கா: ஜெயலலிதா அடிக்கல் நாட்டினார்| newspaper =Maalai Malar| location =Chennai| language =ta| date =28 June 2014| url =http://www.maalaimalar.com/2014/06/28135149/chetpet-lake-42-crore-green-pa.html| access-date =10 Aug 2014| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210143/http://www.maalaimalar.com/2014/06/28135149/chetpet-lake-42-crore-green-pa.html| archive-date =12 August 2014}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Chetput Pond1.JPG
File:Chetput Pond.jpg
File:Pond at Chetput1.JPG
</gallery>

==See also==

*[[Water management in Chennai]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Hydrography of Chennai}}

[[Category:Lakes of Chennai]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Chennai]]
[[Category:Sport in Chennai]]
[[Category:Boathouses in Chennai]]
[[Category:Lakes of Tamil Nadu]]

Chetput Lake - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 20:37, 13 August 2023