Environmentalists urge TN to follow Adyar model to clean up estuary

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

As the water in the Muttukadu backwater has turned toxic green,
environmentalists, scientists and ornithologists have urged the state
government to dredge the mouth of the estuary so that some of the lost
charm of the water body could be restored.

Once a nesting ground of birds as well as aquatic organisms, the
harmful algal bloom of the colonial form of microcystis aeruginosa has
sucked life out of the water body.

Vijay Kumar of Madras Naturalist Society says the need now is to stop
untreated sewage from flowing into the backwater. “Once this is
stopped the micro-organisms in the water would improve and these could
attract more birds and turns the area into a paradise for
birdwatchers,” he says.

He also cites the example of Pallikarnai lake which was turned into a
dumping ground. “But after efforts were taken to restore it, we had
more birds that were not seen 30 years ago flocking again in this
region.

While there is not enough data available on the impact of the
pollution on migratory birds, noted environmentalist Nityanand Jayaram
says that the hydrology of the area has been hit. He says it is quite
difficult to restore the water body now.

He says Muttukadu backwater died due to the unregulated development on
these areas. The construction along the catchment area has choked the
fresh water flow to the lagoon. “This has resulted in Eutrophication.
“Revival of Muttukadu now is too difficult as it would mean
questioning the growth model,” he says.

Dr M Natrajan of Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture says
that Muttukadu lake is the last post of Buckingham canal. He says his
institute doesn’t do much research on the area as the water is too
polluted. “If the mouth of the estuary is opened as has been done in
the case of Adyar, Muthukadu lake could be revived due to the tidal
action,” he says.

Interestingly, there is not much data on Muttukadu estuary. Migratory
birds have been sighted along the East Coast Road. But there is not
enough data on whether migratory birds visit to the estuary have
dwindled or not, villagers swear it has taken a beating due to
pollution of the water body.