The Hindu 18.02.2014
CRZ clearance for Adyar creek eco-restoration
Sewage outfall into river to be diverted to existing network before opening of sand bar
Eco-restoration of Adyar creek and estuary, on 300 acres, is likely to take off soon.
Stipulating
four conditions, the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF)
has recommended coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance for the project.
According
to officials, the expert appraisal committee had instructed the
government to trap all the sewage outfalls presently connected to Adyar
river/creek and divert it to the existing sewage network before opening
the sand bar.
The committee has also directed that
all sewage networks should be eventually diverted to the sewerage
treatment plant for final treatment.
MoEF has
stipulated no sewage effluent or industrial effluent should be allowed
to enter Adyar creek/river within the project area as committed, said an
official.
MoEF has also told the authorities there
should not be construction of any permanent structure within the project
area and only activities permissible under CRZ Notification, 2011,
should be carried out.
Besides, the project proponent
— Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust — has been asked to obtain approval
from the Chennai Corporation for accepting the excavated soil and debris
from the choked Adyar creek.
The clearance has been
granted keeping with the spirit of the Tamil Nadu State CZMA
recommendation and the MoEF has a word of praise for the good work done
in Phase-1 of the project, said the official.
The
project proponent had argued they wanted the project to be taken up and
completed in one go but the expert appraisal committee was clearly not
for opening the sand bar and letting any untreated effluent into the
sea. At present, Adyar river and creek receive a large quantity of
untreated effluent, said the official.
Adyar river and creek receive a large quantity of untreated effluent.