CHENNAI: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the state government, TN State Wetland Authority and TN Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to file a report about the progress in Ennore Creek restoration works.
Hearing a petition filed by K Saravanan, an activist, the bench comprising judicial member Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati asked the government about the measures taken to restore Ennore wetland.
The petitioner requested the bench to issue orders directing the state government to notify the Ennore Wetland under the Wetland Conservation Mission as well as to expand the extent of the wetland by removing illegal encroachments.
Pointing out a Supreme Court order that directed the states to demarcate boundaries of the wetlands listed in the 'Wetland Atlas' prepared by Isro, the NGT further inquired the government whether the Ennore wetland is listed in the Atlas.
Further, the bench noted a government order issued by the state environment, climate change and forest department on January 10, 2024, to implement the Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission at Rs 1,675 crore, and asked what the government has done so far based on the order as more than one year has lapsed.
"Ennore is vital for the sustenance of Chennai. You cannot have a better ecosystem than Ennore for protection (from flooding). Ennore is affected by pollution from fly ash and gobbling up of land for industries," the bench observed.
Seeking reports from the government and its agencies, the bench posted the next hearing on April 23.
The government has allocated Rs 40 crore for Ennore Creek restoration and Rs 275 crore for Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration. Of Rs 1,675 crore, the state will contribute Rs 502.50 crore and the remaining will be from the World Bank, the GO said.
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