Participants carrying placards take part in the 6-km rally from Nanmangalam Lake to Chitlapakkam Lake on August 2, 2026.
Hundreds of residents, civic activists, students and women participated in an awareness rally against substance abuse and for the protection of lakes and other water bodies, organised by the Federation of Civic Residents’ Welfare Associations (Zones 2 and 3, Tambaram Corporation) on August 2, 2026.The rally was jointly organised with Parvathy Hospitals and flagged off by Dr. S. Muthukumar, founder of the hospital, near the sluice gates of Nanmangalam Lake.According to M. Sreedhar, president of the Federation of Civic Residents’ Welfare Associations (Zones 2 and 3), the rally covered nearly 6 km, beginning at 6 a.m., and witnessed enthusiastic participation from residents, including senior citizens. Around 100 students from the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT) and S.C.S. Matriculation Higher Secondary School also took part.Participants carried placards bearing slogans such as “Reject Drugs, Win Tomorrow” and “If Lakes Survive, Humans Survive”, while raising awareness on the twin themes of substance abuse prevention and water body conservation.“Our route was planned to pass through areas where vulnerable youth are more likely to fall prey to substance abuse. The participation of nearly 500 people despite the early morning hours reflects the priority residents and youngsters attach to these issues,” Sreedhar said.Inspector Sivakumar of the Chitlapakkam Police Station presided over the rally, which concluded near Chitlapakkam Lake. At the valedictory event, an MIT student administered a pledge against substance abuse, which was repeated by the participants.
