Paruthipattu Lake
{{Short description|Indian lake}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Paruthipattu Lake
| image =
| caption =
| alt = Drone view of Avadi Lake
| pushpin_map = India Chennai
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of the lake within Chennai
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in metropolitan Chennai
| image_bathymetry =
| caption_bathymetry =
| location = Avadi, Chennai, India
| coords = {{coord|13.107|80.106|region:IN|display=title,inline}}
| type = Lake
| inflow =
| outflow =
| catchment =
| basin_countries = India
| length =
| width =
| area = {{convert|22|hectare|abbr=on}}
| depth = {{cvt|12|feet}}
| max-depth =
| volume =
| residence_time =
| shore =
| elevation =
| islands =
}}
Paruthipattu Lake, also known as Avadi Lake, is a lake in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is located in the Avadi locality of Chennai. It is the second eco-park in the city after Chetput Lake.{{cite news
| last = Lakshmi
| first = K.
| title = Eco-park at Paruthipattu lake to be ready by month-end
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| pages = 3
| language =
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons
| date = 14 March 2019
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/eco-park-at-paruthipattu-lake-to-be-ready-by-month-end/article26525987.ece
| accessdate = 1 May 2019}}
History
The lake remained one of the neglected waterbodies in the western suburbs for long, shrinking to {{convert|8|acre|abbr=on}}.{{cite journal | title = Time to restore vanishing water bodies | journal = Madras Musings | volume = XXVIII | issue = 2 | date = May 1–15, 2018 | url = http://www.madrasmusings.com/vol-28-no-2/time-to-restore-vanishing-water-bodies/ | access-date = 21 October 2018}} In 2018, the Water Resources Department restored the lake at a cost of {{INR}} 280 million in two phases, developing it into an eco-tourism spot. The lake eco-park was opened to public on 21 June 2019.{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| title = Western suburbs get a new recreational space
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| pages = 2
| language =
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons
| date = 22 June 2019
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/western-suburbs-get-a-new-recreational-space/article28103880.ece
| accessdate = 22 June 2019}} The renovation involved relocation of approximately 500 people.{{cite news
| last = Stalin
| first = J. Sam Daniel
| title = After Rs. 28 Crore-Project, Chennai Lake Offers Parched City Hope
| newspaper = NDTV
| location = Chennai
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = NDTV.com
| date = 27 June 2019
| url = https://www.ndtv.com/cities/chennai-water-crisis-paruthapattu-lake-in-avadi-cleaned-after-rs-28-crore-project-offers-parched-cit-2059903
| accessdate = 8 July 2019}}
Lake
Avadi Lake lies right behind the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) and Thirumullaivoyal. This lake is of length of 2.64 kilometers and covers an area of 8 acres before the restoration. It is mostly known to have never dried up in many years. This lake has supposedly been a source of water for cultivation of farm lands long before. The water body attracts many birds during various seasons.
The lake is fed by surplus water from the unpolluted stretch of the Cooum River.{{cite news
| last = Lakshmi
| first = K.
| title = Ecotourism spot to come up near Avadi by year-end
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons
| date = 13 April 2018
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/ecotourism-spot-to-come-up-near-avadi-by-year-end/article23520160.ece
| accessdate = 20 October 2018}} The lake serves as a source for groundwater recharge in the neighbouring areas, such as Adhiparasakthi Nagar and Govardhanagiri.{{cite news
| last = Lakshmi
| first = K.
| title = Paruthipattu lake on city outskirts to get eco-park on lines of Chetpet
| newspaper = The Hindu
| location = Chennai
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons
| date = 8 November 2018
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/paruthipattu-lake-on-city-outskirts-to-get-eco-park-on-lines-of-chetpet/article25440136.ece
| accessdate = 10 November 2018}} The average depth is 12 feet.
However, in recent decades the lake has lost most of its area to indiscriminate building and encroachment. These are the major problems at present, since the water of the monsoon showers moves inside of the buildings as they are in the area of the lake.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Sudden-burst-of-rain-takes-Avadi-by-surprise/articleshow/49853248.cms|title=Sudden burst of rain takes Avadi by surprise|website=Times of India|access-date=2017-11-18}}
Restoration
The eco-park surrounding the lake consists of a 3-km-long walking track, children's play area, refreshment block, a central plaza for public gathering, a boat deck with three landing areas, a couple of islands for nesting birds, an open-air theatre, an administration office building, and vehicle parking lot. About 35 varieties of plants have been planted around the lake.
A sewage treatment plant has been built on the shore at a cost of {{INR}} 350 million to treat sewage from the Avadi municipality. The facility will pump 10 million litres of recycled water into the lake, besides selling an equal amount of water for industrial use.
See also
{{Portal|India}}