Sembakkam lake, spreading over 100 acres, is in deep trouble! This beautiful peri-urban lake, connected to the famous Pallikaranai marshland near Chennai, is being polluted by raw sewage. Residents of Sembakkam are raising loud alarms over dirty sewage mixing with floodwater flowing into the lake. Where is this sewage coming from? Areas like Rajarajeswari Nagar Main Road, Haridaspuram Main Road, and Venkataraman Nagar First Main Road are linked to channels that bring floodwater – but these floodwaters sadly carry untreated sewage too. M. Ravi, the secretary of the Sri Sarvamangala Nagar Residents Welfare Association, spoke out about the problem. He said, "Many streets are yet to be covered by the underground sewer network. Sewage from various streets like Vinobaji Nagar 11th Street is connected to floodwater channels to avoid overflow onto the roads." Sadly, this means dirty water flows straight into the lake, harming its environment and threatening the clean groundwater beneath. Residents also highlighted that there aren’t enough sewage pumping stations to collect all the wastewater. A much-needed new pumping station at Thiru.Vi.Ka.Nagar is still incomplete. The association plans to send petitions to various government agencies, including the Tambaram Municipal Corporation and Water Resources Department, urging them to stop the sewage mess. Here’s a bright spot: Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has picked Sembakkam lake as one of 10 key waterbodies for restoration and lakefront development. This project includes building a sewage treatment plant, but sadly, work has not started yet. Officials from the Water Resources Department said they regularly write to civic bodies to stop sewage entering waterbodies. They also plan to work with local authorities to build a drain along the lake. This drain would catch sewage, treat it in a chamber, and then release clean water back to the lake. Sembakkam lake is more than just a pretty water spot; it’s a crucial source for recharging groundwater in the region. If sewage keeps flowing in, both nature and people could suffer. Will the authorities act soon, or will the lake suffer in silence? Residents are waiting with bated breath!