Chitlapakkam Lake
Chitlapakkam aeri, or Chitlapakkam lake, is an urban lake located in Chitlapakkam, Chennai, India. It is the chief water body in the neighbourhood. Originally measuring 86.86 acres, the lake has currently shrunken to 46.88 acres. The lake was last restored in 2003. History Chitlapakkam lake is the uppermost tank in the Keelkattalai cluster of waterbodies. Before urbanization, Chitlapakkam was an important agricultural area. The water from the lake was then used for irrigation, with an ayacut area of 219 acres. Pachamalai hill in the neighbourhood served as a source for the lake. The original capacity of the lake was 7.02 million cubit feet. Until the 1980s, the waterfront provided recreation. The lake filled water tanks in the nearby areas of Sembakkam and Hasthinapuram. Till the early 1980s, groundwater could be found in the neighbourhood at a depth of just 5 feet. The water level did not fall below 10 feet even at the peak of summer. The area became a residential area chiefly due to the reason that the water was potable. The lake also attracted migratory birds and was a favourite spot for birdwatchers. In 1990, the government planned to use the lake bed for construction of public utilities,