Clear construction debris from Srinivasapuram beach and submit status report, says Green Tribunal

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The National Green Tribunal has directed Public Works Department to remove the construction debris, which it dumped in the Foreshore Estate and dispose it off as per solid waste rules besides submitting a status report on the same by November 2.

The directive on Thursday came after The New Indian Express brought to light that PWD while adhering to earlier directive of the tribunal to clear the construction debris dumped near the Adyar Estuary dumped it on the beach near Srinivasapuram.

K Saravanan of Urur Kuppam, on whose petition the Green Tribunal passed the earlier order, objected to the move by PWD and approached the tribunal again. He said that PWD after removing the debris from Adyar Estuary, are dumping the same in another area also within the coastal regulation zone.

Contractors carrying out the operation at that time defended the move saying it was done to level the beach for Ganesh idol immersion sparking protest from Green activist Nityanand Jayaram, who said that this alleged illegality is perpetuated every year in the name of God. “Coastal Regulation Zone notification does not exempt divine forces for dumping on the beach,” he had stated.

The tribunal also directed PWD to file another status report before the next hearing on November 2 indicating the actions taken by them to remove the debris. It also directed PWD to enforce scientific methods to clean the site. The tribunal observed that it is being learnt that PWD is not cleaning the debris properly and are using Earth Moving Equipment instead of adopting Beach Cleaning Machine. “Without entering into any controversy, we direct the Opposite Parties to use scientific methods to clean the site,” the tribunal observed.

The controversy had earlier erupted after Public Works Department allegedly dumped construction material to build a dirt road for opening a sand bar in the Adyar river estuary. The road fell within the high tide line and was being laid nearly up to the river mouth, barely a metre away from the hatchery for Olive Ridley turtles. The Green Tribunal ordered the removal of all the debris dumped to create the dirt road within a period of three months from the order delivered on August 7.