The lake on Mudichur Road, Tambaram, has been dry and neglected for 15–16 years. Since 2 October 2026 we have been clearing it and reshaping it, so it can hold rainwater again and keep floodwater away from the homes around it.
Five Falls Women's Welfare Trust (ஐந்தருவி மகளிர் நல அறக்கட்டளை) is a registered trust (Regd. No. 87/2018) based in Selaiyur, East Tambaram, Chennai. We work for the welfare of women and for the lakes our neighbourhoods depend on.
Women from local self-help groups are at the heart of our work. Alongside the big clean-up on 10 October 2026, they held a Pongal event at the lake.
புதுத்தாங்கல் ஏரி
The lake project
Puduthangal Lake · Mudichur Road · Ward 52, Zone 4 · Tambaram
The problem
The lake has held no water for 15–16 years. Brush and rubbish filled its bed, and the families around it lost a water source. With nothing to hold the rain, a heavy monsoon could flood nearby homes.
What we're doing
An excavator is clearing brush and rubbish and reshaping the lake bed and its banks, so the lake can store rainwater again, ready before the rains.
Done the proper way
The Water Resources Department gave its permission (NOC) for the work, and Tambaram City Municipal Corporation, Zone 4, supports it.
So far
02.10.2026
Work begins on Gandhi Jayanti with a puja and a JCB. The first phase was finished within a week.
10.10.2026
Mass clean-up with volunteers and Tambaram Corporation, and a Pongal event at the lake by women from local self-help groups.
13.10.2026
Reshaping the lake. The excavator clears the bed, levels the ground by the boundary wall and shapes the banks to hold rainwater.
Next
Finish before the monsoon, and hold Sunday morning awareness events at schools, colleges and lakes around Tambaram.
புதிய செய்திகள்
Updates
Every post from the lake, newest first. The same posts go out on @5falls.trust.
05.11.2026
Invitation: Lake protection and restoration event
Today, 5 November 2026, at 9.30 AM, the Puduthangal Lake protection and restoration event takes place at the lake on Mudichur Road, West Tambaram, after the lake filled with water again for the first time in 15 years. Hon'ble Minister Thiru. D. Sarathkumar presides; Hon'ble Justice (retd) Vaidyanathan and Corporation Commissioner Tmt. R. Saranya, I.A.S. are the chief guests. Held together with the Puthuthangal Lake Protection Trust. All residents' associations around the lake and the public are warmly invited.
For about 15 years, Puduthangal Lake did not hold a drop of water. Local people, our women's self-help group and the JCB worked on it from 2 October, and water came back on 18 October. On 23 October, Hon'ble Minister Thiru. D. Sarathkumar and Corporation Commissioner Tmt. R. Saranya IAS planted saplings at the lake, to protect its greenery and the water body. The Reel is narrated in S. Shanthi's own voice, recreated with AI with her consent.
Hon'ble Minister for Human Resources Management Thiru. D. Sarathkumar launched a sapling-planting drive at Puduthangal Lake (Zone 4, Tambaram Corporation) to protect the environment, add greenery and protect our water bodies. Corporation Commissioner Tmt. R. Saranya IAS and officials took part.
Hon'ble Minister Thiru. D. Sarathkumar at the lake
On 21 October, Hon'ble Minister Thiru. D. Sarathkumar inspected Puduthangal Lake and its inlet channel with Tambaram Corporation officials and Saranya IAS. After about 15 years, water is flowing into the lake again. His visit is a big encouragement for the work led by S. Shanthi and the people of Tambaram.
அமைச்சர் அவர்களின் வருகை பெரும் ஊக்கம். மனமார்ந்த நன்றி! 🙏
Minister D. Sarathkumar visited Puduthangal Lake and inspected it and its inlet channel with Tambaram Corporation officials and Saranya IAS. Water is now flowing in through the channel, and egrets are back on the lake. Team work led by S. Shanthi.
மாண்புமிகு அமைச்சர் திரு. டி. சரத்குமார் அவர்கள் புதுத்தாங்கல் ஏரியைப் பார்வையிட்டார். நீருக்கு நன்றி 💧
Under rain clouds, the excavator pulled out bushes by the roots and reshaped the bank along the boundary wall, getting the lake ready to hold rainwater before the monsoon.
மழை மேகங்களுக்கு நடுவிலும் வேலை தொடர்கிறது. மழை வருமுன் ஏரியைத் தயார் செய்கிறோம் 💧
Photos from 13 October 2026. For daily updates, follow @5falls.trust on Instagram.
உதவுங்கள்
Help keep the work going
The machines run on donations from the public and sponsors. Take on one of these, or give any amount. Even ₹100 helps.
₹5,500A day's vehicle hireஒரு நாள் வாகன வாடகை
80 litresA day's diesel. You can also fill it directly: write to us to arrange it.ஒரு நாள் டீசல்
₹300The driver's food for a dayஓட்டுநர் உணவுச் செலவு
Scan with GPay, PhonePe, Paytm or any UPI app
mr.ramky-1@oksbi
The name shown is Shanthi S, our Founder and Secretary.
Sponsoring a larger amount? Write to fivefalls2001@gmail.com and we'll send you the Trust's bank details, so your gift is recorded as sponsorship of the Trust.
இணைந்து செயல்படுவோர்
Working together
Tamil Nadu Volunteers
Partner organisation on the lake project
ExNoRa International
Guidance and support
WRD
Water Resources Department
Permission (NOC) and support for the work
TCMC
Tambaram City Municipal Corporation, Zone 4
Support for the clean-up
And the residents, volunteers and self-help groups of Tambaram who turn up to help. நன்றி.
தொடர்புக்கு
Get in touch
Want to volunteer at a clean-up, sponsor the work, or invite us to your school or association? Write to us.
