Buckingham canal: File detailed report on sewage water discharge: NGT to state
Chennai: The National Green Tribunal Principal Bench heard a case on sewage water discharge and encroachments along the Buckingham canal filed by Chennai-based activist Jawaharlal Shanmugham on Monday. The bench asked the state government to submit a detailed report on the joint inspection carried out on the 19km stretch between Thiruvanmiyur and Sholinganallur regarding the discharge of sewage water into the Buckingham canal and details pertaining to the encroachments along both sides of it.
Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice S.P Wangdi & Expert Member Nagir Nanda expressed dismay with the progress shown by government authorities in solving the problem and felt they were too slow in their actions to mitigate. They asked for a detailed report on the action taken so far in addressing the issue of sewer discharge into the rivers, especially the Buckingham canal. The report is to be submitted in a month.
The Chennai River Restoration Trust (CRRT) has submitted an interim report which highlights the details of just 18 big buildings in the Thiruvanmiyur to Sholinganallur stretch.
“In reality, there are more than 100 multi-storied buildings, including star hotels, IT companies and gated communities. The report also highlights the lack of proper underground sewerage system in greater Chennai areas of Kottivakkam, Pallavakkam, Neelangarai, Thoraipakkan, Injamvakkam, Karapakkam and Sholinganallur”, Jawaharlal says.
Only 50 per cent of the untreated water from the areas on the 19 km stretch is discharged into the canal, according to reports. “Where is the rest of it? Where do tanker lorries take them? All contaminated water will seep into the groundwater table and it already has,” says Jawaharlal. No lesson was learnt from 2015, say experts.
“Disaster management policies need to be drawn up as a precautionary measure. You don’t fight after a disaster hits us,” says Jawaharlal.
“The cause for flooding has still not been identified. The topography of the city is such that it is next to impossible to flood. How then did 2015 happen? Nobody has put any effort to find the root cause,” they said.
