Deccan Chronicle 27.07.2009
MRTS stations encroach canal
Chennai, July 26: The underground parking space and newly-laid cement roads at MRTS stations in Kotturpuram, Kasturba Nagar and Indira Nagar have encroached on the Buckingham canal, which was declared as a national waterway last year by the Central government. The canal has lost half its width at these points.
“The 100 metre canal is now reduced to less than 50 metre thanks to the underground parking space and new cement roads at the MRTS station premises in Kasturba Nagar, Indira Nagar and other places,” said Mr Isai Arasan, an environmental activist.
South Buckingham canal, 103 kms long and running from Chennai to Marakkanam, was included in 1095 km national waterway number 4 last year by the Central government. However, the Centre pointed out that the 50 km-long part of the canal running from Ennore to Muttukkadu within Chennai limits was heavily encroached. However, the deepening and widening of the canal is still underway under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission while ‘encroachment’ by the MRTS is overlooked.
“When the agreement was reached between the PWD and the CMDA on MRTS, the CMDA agreed to keep the canal clean and remove all the encroachments along the canal’s way. But they are encroaching the canal and using it as their dump yard,” said Mr P. Gomathi Nayagam, former chief engineer (designs), PWD. Mr S. Ramasundaram, PWD secretary, declined to comment.
