Ensure free flow in Buckingham Canal before rain, NGT tells PWD

The tribunal’s second bench of judicial member P Jyothimani and expert member PS Rao, on recording PWD’s submissions about deployment of earthmovers to clear the canal, said “A concerted effort by all the stake holders was needed to clean up the canal and it is pertinent that the slit which had accumulated over the years is removed before the monsoon sets in.” 

The PWD has submitted that pre-monsoon work is progressing at an estimate of Rs 53.15 lakhs for various activities in South Buckingham canal. Along with this, through an additional fund allocation to the tune of Rs 60 lakh specific works from Kottivakkam foot bridge to Okkiyam Maduvu has been taken up. Similarly, desilting work in Adyar river until Thiruneermalai and downstream has also been taken up at a cost of over Rs 6 crore. In addition to this, work in Cooum river at a cost of Rs 91 lakh is also in progress.

It also told the tribunal that seven earthmovers and a pontoon have been deployed to remove debris accumulated near the six-foot bridges between Tiruvanmiyur and Sholinganallur.

However, the bench also recorded the submission of petitioner Jawahar Shanmugam that a permanent dredger should be installed exclusively for South Buckingham Canal to remove the silt on a continuous basis so that the canal’s depth is maintained and is devoid of silt.

He also told the bench that the encroachments on either sides from Tiruvanmiyur to Okkiyam Maduvu has made it difficult for the earth movers to even enter the canal. He also pointed out that barge in which the earthmovers are placed are unable to move owing to silt accumulation and it requires some rain to get the barge moving.

On the aspects pertaining to huge structures coming about on the banks of Adyar river near Saidapet and a five-star hotel coming up on the banks of Buckingham canal near Lattice bridge, which were bound to impede the free flow of water, the bench directed the petitioner to file a separate affidavit on both the issues.