CleanupBot II at 09:08, 14 August 2023

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Korattur Aeri
| image = கொரட்டூர் ஏரியிலுள்ள பூநாரைகள்.jpg
| caption = Korattur Lake
| alt = View of Korattur Lake
| image_bathymetry =
| pushpin_map = India Chennai
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of the lake within Chennai
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = [[Korattur]], [[Chennai]], [[India]]
| coords = {{coord|13.12330|80.18047|display=inline,title}}
| type = [[Lake]]
| inflow =
| outflow =
| catchment =
| basin_countries = India
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|990|acre|abbr=on}} (water spread area: {{convert|700|acre|abbr=on}})<ref>{{cite news
| last = Lakshmi
| first = K.
| title = Three more lakes to be added to city’s drinking water sources
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| pages = 3
| language =
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons
| date = 26 November 2019
| url = https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-hindu/20191126/281642487021545
| accessdate = 2 January 2020}}</ref>

| depth =
| max-depth =
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation =
| islands = Vembu Pasumai Thittu
| cities = Chennai
}}

'''Korattur Aeri''', or Korattur Lake, also known as '''Vembu Pasumai Thittu''', is a lake spread over 990 acres in [[Korattur]], [[Chennai]], [[India]]. It is located to the north of the [[West Line, Chennai Suburban|Chennai–Arakkonam railway line]]. It is one of the largest lakes in the western part of the city.

Korattur Aeri is one of a chain of three water bodies, including the Ambattur Aeri and the Madhavaram Aeri, where surplus water from one is transported to another. The water from the lake had been supplied to Chennai residents for a brief period when there was a shortage in the late 1970s. However, over the years, the lake has been contaminated with sewage and industrial effluents from surrounding areas such as Pattaravakkam, Athipet and Ambattur.<ref name="Hindu_ResidentsInLakeBeautification">{{cite news
| last = Lakshmi
| first = K.
| title = Residents to have hand in beautification of Korattur lake
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| pages =
| language =
| publisher =
| date = 30 July 2013
| url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/residents-to-have-hand-in-beautification-of-korattur-lake/article4968680.ece
| accessdate = 18 Aug 2013}}</ref>

==Developments==
In 2013, the Water Resources Department decided to rejuvenate and beautify the lakes in Ambattur, Madhavaram and Korattur with parks and walkways.<ref name="Hindu_ResidentsInLakeBeautification"/> The total project costs {{INR}} 600 million.<ref name="AmbatturTalk_LifeForLakes">{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| title = Life for Lakes: Work on Rejuvenating Water Bodies to Pick Up
| newspaper = Ambattur Talk
| location = Chennai
| pages = 1, 2
| language =
| publisher =
| date = 13–19 March 2016
| url =
}}</ref> In 2018, the corporation identified and removed about 550 encroachments along the bank of the lake and the bund will be strengthened to a distance of 3 kilometers.<ref name="Hindu_ResidentsFaceOffWithPolice">{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| title = Residents face off with police at Korattur lake
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| pages = 4
| language =
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons
| date = 13 October 2018
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/residents-face-off-with-police-at-korattur-lake/article25209666.ece
| accessdate = 14 October 2018}}</ref>

==Flora and fauna==
This Lake is an important wildlife refuge in northern and western parts of [[Chennai]], together with the much larger [[Puzhal Lake]] and the like-sized [[Madhavaram Lake]] and [[Ambattur Lake]]. According to the Care Earth Trust, a city-based biodiversity research organisation, nearly 40 bird species are present in these lakes, including [[common tailorbird]], the [[purple-rumped sunbird]], and the migratory [[Asian openbill stork]].<ref>{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| title = Soon, lakes in western suburbs will attract birdwatchers
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons
| date = 15 July 2018
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/soon-lakes-in-western-suburbs-will-attract-birdwatchers/article24423150.ece
| accessdate = 20 October 2018}}</ref>

A good part of greenery and natural vegetation was present in this lake, even till the last decade. Much natural vegetation once existed in the lake and its bund. [[Palmyrah]], [[date palm]], [[umbrella thorn]] trees dot the bund. Inside the lake, [[water hyacinth]] is to be seen. This apart, many aquatic vegetation, [[Nymphaeaceae|water lily]] and wetland rushes are present in the water body.

The lake has a multitude of birds, and is a major attraction for wildlife enthusiasts. Large and rare birds like [[grey pelican]], [[painted stork]], [[Asian openbill]], [[grey heron]] and [[large egret]] occur here. Other birds include divers such as [[little grebe]], [[common teal]], [[purple swamphen]], [[common moorhen]], [[coot]], [[little cormorant]] are found. Waders include [[white-breasted waterhen]], [[Indian pond heron]], [[black-crowned night heron]], [[cattle egret]], [[little egret]] and rare ones like [[common snipe]], [[black-winged stilt]], [[chestnut bittern]], [[black bittern]] and [[cinnamon bittern]]. Other rare birds include [[pheasant-tailed jacana]], [[common kingfisher]], [[white-throated kingfisher]] and [[pied kingfisher]] are also here.

Apart from water birds, other birdlife like [[black-rumped flameback]], woodpecker, [[rose ringed parakeet]], [[black drongo]], [[paddyfield pipit]], [[blue jay]], [[golden oriole]], [[common mynah]], [[Eurasian hoopoe]], [[Indian swiftlet]], [[swallow]], [[coppersmith barbet]], [[Asian green bee-eater]], [[blue-tailed bee-eater]], [[Asian koel]], [[Jacobin cuckoo]], [[coucal]] and [[rufous treepie]] occur here. [[Birds of prey]] or raptors such as [[spotted owlet]], [[black kite]], [[shikra]], [[black-winged kite]] are to be seen.

Threatened reptiles like [[Indian flapshell turtle]], water snakes such as [[checkered keelback]], [[olive keelback]], [[striped keelback]] and tree snakes like [[Daudin's bronzeback]] and [[green vine snake]] and land snakes like [[common wolf snake]], [[streaked kukri snake]] and the [[Oriental ratsnake]] are found. Even venomous ones like [[spectacled cobra]] and [[common krait]] occur here, but are rather rare. Lizards such as [[Oriental garden lizard]] and skinks like [[keeled Indian mabuya]], [[bronze mabuya]] and ''[[Lygosoma punctata]]'' occur here. [[Bengal monitor]] is rare here and is threatened and protected species.

Amphibians like [[green pond frog]], [[skittering frog]], [[Jerdon's bullfrog]], [[Indian bullfrog]], [[Indian tree frog]], [[Asian common toad]], [[ornate narrow-mouthed frog]], ''[[Microhyla rubra]]'' and ''[[Ramanella variegata]]'' occur here. All of these get very active during monsoon.

Mammals are rare here. Earlier, stray occasions of the predatory [[golden jackal]] were known. But at present, their existence is doubtful. [[Indian grey mongoose]] and [[Indian palm squirrel]] are commonly seen. The [[Indian pipistrelle]] bat is also commonly seen during late evenings.

==See also==

*[[Water management in Chennai]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

[[Category:Lakes of Chennai]]
[[Category:Lakes of Tamil Nadu]]

Korattur Lake - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 09:08, 14 August 2023