NGT Pressures Tamil Nadu Government for Ennore Creek Restoration Updates: Delays in Project Initiation

CHENNAI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is pressing the Tamil Nadu government for updates on the restoration of Ennore Creek. This comes after a petition from fishermen and environmental activist K. Saravanan, who is pushing for official recognition of the creek as a wetland under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

Reports indicate that the Manali Ennore Restoration and Rejuvenation Company (MERRC), set up by Chief Minister MK Stalin to oversee several development projects in north Chennai, has not yet started restoring the creek.

A senior government official assured that work will commence within a month.

During the hearing, the tribunal, led by Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member K Satyagopal, called on the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority for details on ongoing restoration efforts. The petition requested a thorough action plan outlining wetland encroachments, recovery efforts, and the allocation of Rs 40 crore for these projects.

The tribunal referenced a government order that includes the restoration of Ennore Creek in the Tamil Nadu Sustainable Harnessing Ocean Resources and Blue Economy (TN SHORE) initiative, part of the Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has been tasked with restoring the creek, which has suffered from pollution and encroachments over the years.

Expert member Satyagopal emphasized the ecological significance of Ennore Creek, pointing out its role in supporting marine life and protecting Chennai from coastal erosion and urban flooding. He also raised concerns about whether the creek has been documented in the National Wetland Atlas created by ISRO’s Space Applications Centre.

Ennore Creek is vital for maintaining local biodiversity, but industrial activities, illegal encroachments, and pollution have severely harmed it. The NGT has set the next hearing for April 23, 2025. By then, the Tamil Nadu government is expected to present its action plan for restoring the creek.

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