Chennai: A month after Madipakkam lake turned a graveyard for marine life, thousands of dead fish were found dead in the shores of a stagnated pond at Korattur, as effluents from Ambattur industrial estate was diverted.
The recent order of the southern bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) to refrain contaminating Korattur lake with effluents from Ambattur has prompted officials to divert the water through a canal, thus polluting the stagnated pond.
The pond-like-structure in a vacant land on the 100-feet-road connecting Anna Nagar West and Red Hills had formed when the road was laid here some 10 years ago. With the channels that flush out the excess water being encroached, the stagnated water body resembles a pond.
B. Sridhar, member of Korattur Welfare Association said, “Water in this pond turned dark, explaining the intensity of pollution. Toxicants from the Ambattur industrial estate have also contaminated the ground water at Om Shanthi Nagar, Balaji nagar and Subbalakshmi Nagar.”
The carcass of thousands of fish had left visitors at dismay, as they question the inefficiency of treating the pollutant water. “NGT has ordered to dispose the pollutant water in Korattur lake. Rather than formulating an eco-friendly solution, the officials diverted it to another water body,” said Nishanth, who used to do fishing here.
Corporation officials have cleared the dead fish and disinfected the site. But, when asked about a comprehensive solution, they are clueless. “We have sent a letter to Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and public works department. The solution depends on the court’s direction,” he added.
