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Public Health / Sanitation

Small waterbodies in southern suburbs remain neglected

Tuesday, 19 January 2010 04:10 administrator
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The Hindu 19.01.2010

Small waterbodies in southern suburbs remain neglected

K.Manikandan

Plastic, garden and kitchen waste dumped on them

 

The ‘malaikuttai’ in Zamin Raayapettai in Chromepet is a waterbody that presents a pathetic sight

— Photo: A.Muralitharan

IN NEED OF ATTENTION: Small waterbodies such as ‘malaikuttai’ in Zamin Raayapettai could contribute significantly to the water table if maintained properly.

TAMBARAM: It is not just the huge and sprawling lakes in the southern suburbs of Chennai that are crying for attention from the State government agencies and urban and rural local bodies.

Even small waterbodies that could be of immense benefit in conserving precious rainwater have been completely ignored. In addition to the 300 lakes in Tambaram taluk, the southern suburbs are dotted with small tanks (‘kulam’) and ponds (‘kuttai’). While a few of them have been revived because of the intervention of environmentalists, most other small waterbodies of temples, those created in abandoned quarries and natural ponds nestled in the midst of residential localities remain neglected.

The ‘malaikuttai’ in Zamin Raayapettai in Chromepet, Pallavaram Municipality, for instance, is a waterbody that presents a pathetic sight. It has an expanse of less than one acre and residents said it was formed several years ago in an abandoned quarry site. The rocky surface ensured that perennial springs continuously fed the waterbody. Though it was not a direct source to draw water, it ensured that the water table in this part of Zamin Raayapettai was always maintained.

Today, a blanket of plastic, garden and kitchen waste, besides others forms of refuse, can be seen over the water surface. Even huge chunks of chopped-down trees have been dumped on the waterbody, making it a receptacle of filth.

Krishna Giri, a resident of Radha Nagar, complained that there was no positive response from the government agencies concerned. Citing reports and announcements that several hundred crore rupees were being spent on water supply improvement and cement concrete road-laying projects in the local bodies around Chennai, she wondered why a few lakh rupees could not be spent in protecting waterbodies such as the ‘malaikuttai.’

Pallavaram Municipal Chairman E.Karunanidhi said they were preparing a scheme for carrying out improvement works on the pond and they would begin by constructing a compound wall around it. There were also proposals to build a ground level service reservoir (underground sump) to store Palar drinking water when they expand the distribution system. However, a decision would be made later, Mr. Karunanidhi said, adding the municipal administration would protect the waterbody.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 January 2010 04:17
 

Chennai beaches get cleaned in time for Ridley nesting season

Monday, 18 January 2010 10:36 administrator
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The Times of India 18.01.2010

Chennai beaches get cleaned in time for Ridley nesting season

TNN, 18 January 2010, 06:20am IST

CHENNAI: Ahead of the peak Olive Ridley turtle nesting season, students and volunteers came together on Sunday to clean up the beach from near the broken bridge behind the Theosophical Society to Neelankarai.

The clean-up drive was carried out by the Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network (SSTCN)to provide a safe nesting ground for the endangered turtles. February is the peak nesting season for Olive Ridley turtles which have been coming to the Chennai coast. Launching the drive, Nityanand Jayaraman, an volunteer of Reclaim Our Beaches (ROB) said over 50 youngsters will clean up the beachfront. Volunteers have been cleaning up and patrolling the 7-km stretch from from the Adyar river mouth to Neelankarai for three decades now.

"Students walk the stretch from December to April to locate nests and collect eggs, which are then safely relocated to the hatchery set up near the Adyar river mouth," said SSTCN coordinator Akhila.

"Thirty years ago, over 100 nests could be found in a one kilometre area. Now, there are about 10 nests," she said. Conservationists, however, are happy to an extent as the turtle population has remained stable over the past few years. This year began on a sad note with at least a dozen dead turtles were washed ashore affected by the oil slick along the ECR.

So far this year, the volunteers have found two nesting sites and have safely relocated 181 eggs to the hatchery.

"We measure the depth at which the nests are built and create the same depth in the hatchery for the hatchlings to emerge 45 days later," said I Karmegam, a fisherman turned volunteer. "The female turtles come back to the same spot for nesting when they reach adulthood," he said.

After hatching, the light-sensitive hatchlings strike out to the sea following the moonlight's reflection on the ocean surface. However, the mastlights along the ECR disorient hatchlings and many end up dying trapped in the garbage and plant-growth. To prevent this, the Chennai Corporation has been asked to switch off the mast lights during the nesting season.

Fishermen have also been asked to avoid using fishing gear and techniques which would harm the turtles. A massive drive will be conducted to clean the Elliot's beach on January 30. The message to the people: Keep the beach litter-free.
 

Clean-up of beachfront taken up

Monday, 18 January 2010 01:16 administrator
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The Hindu 18.01.2010

Clean-up of beachfront taken up

Staff Reporter

Effort to make it safer for Olive Ridley turtles during nesting season

— File Photo

A sea turtle laying its eggs on the beach in Neelankarai.

CHENNAI: In an effort to make the beach safer for Olive Ridley turtles during the nesting season, a clean-up of the beachfront along the Theosophical Society near the broken bridge was undertaken here on Sunday by college students, conservationists and residents.

“We have a duty to keep the beaches clean and safe for the turtles,” said Akila Balu of the Students Sea Turtle Conservation Network (SSTCN). “They have been nesting along these coasts for thousands of years. Just 20 years ago, we used to find 100 nesting sites per kilometre. Now it has come down to 10 per kilometre.”

Turtles usually nest and hatch between January and May.

Gravid mother turtles need to dig deep holes to lay eggs, and trash acts as a big hindrance.

“Apart from those who litter on the beach, a lot of garbage also comes from the Adyar river which gets deposited on the coast by the sea,” said Nithyanand Jayaraman, an environmental activist.

“The turtles cannot dig through the garbage to deposit their eggs.”

He added that clean-ups organised by the Chennai Corporation are deficient and community-driven efforts are meant to evolve a model to do it differently.

Two months ago, morning walkers who use the Elliots beach initiated a clean-up with the help of the Chennai Corporation but most of the garbage was left behind in plastic bags at the beach which subsequently got buried in sand.

A significant part of the close to six tonnes of garbage collected on Sunday was plastic bags containing trash.

Archanaa Seker, a volunteer, said: “Everyone loves to come to the beach but no one takes care of it. Clean-ups like this are meant to show what the young can do.”

This is the first in a series of clean-ups that have been planned on the stretch from broken bridge to the Governor’s bungalow in Besant Nagar. Republic Day will be celebrated through a community clean-up of the Urur-Olcott Kuppam beach.

On January 30, a massive voluntary clean-up of Elliots beach, in which anyone is welcome to participate, is being organised.

The trash gathered on that day will be used to build a garbage sculpture at the beach to show everyone what we have been doing to our beaches.

Last Updated on Monday, 18 January 2010 01:17
 
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