NGT Orders Tambaram Corporation to Stop Sewage Pollution in Madambakkam Lake

The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued urgent directives to stop untreated domestic sewage from polluting Madambakkam lake in Madambakkam. In an order issued on June 9, 2026, the tribunal directed the Tambaram City Municipal Corporation and other state agencies to immediately plug sewage outfalls and restore the lake's ecosystem.

The NGT initiated the case suo motu after observing that domestic sewage remains the primary cause of pollution and ecological degradation in the waterbody. Water quality tests conducted on the lake revealed that faecal coliform and total coliform levels exceeded permissible limits, rendering the water entirely unfit for drinking and other designated uses.

To address these issues, the tribunal directed the Tambaram City Municipal Corporation to expedite the implementation of its Underground Sewerage Scheme (UGSS). Pending the completion of the UGSS, the corporation must operationalise interception and diversion systems alongside decentralised sewage treatment plants to manage the waste.

Additionally, local authorities must permanently plug all sewage outfalls entering the lake and ensure the proper collection and treatment of wastewater. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has been instructed to conduct periodic monitoring of the water quality and initiate action against any violations.

Other government departments have also been tasked with specific restoration duties. The Water Resources Department (WRD) must undertake physical restoration works, including desilting, removing aquatic weeds, and strengthening the lake bunds. Meanwhile, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has been directed to ensure future developments around the lake comply with environmental safeguards.

In a separate order issued on the same day, the NGT also targeted sewage pollution at Korattur lake in Chennai, directing the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) and the Greater Chennai Corporation to remove encroachments and plug illegal sewer connections within six months.