Tussle for rights over channel

The proposal to take over the portion of the channel measuring 54 hectares in the marshland area would help maintain the marshland better and avoid discharge of pollutants into the wetland. Around four months ago, the Forest department brought to light illegal discharge of sewage into the channel by ELCOT. However, while it manages the marshland, it lacks control on the Water Resources Organisation (WRO) maintained channel and could not rein in on the polluters. 

“A portion of the marshland was contaminated by discharge of sewage from ELCOT three months ago. It takes a while for the system to naturally repair itself. The ecological cost of such contaminations is very high,” reasoned a senior Forest department official, who confirmed that the resolution was sent for the government’s perusal. Though WRO undertakes periodic maintenance, like desilting the channel and strengthening its bund, as it did recently, it has been found wanting in plugging discharge of sewage and other contaminants in to the channel, which drains in to the marshland.

“We lack the legal teeth to rein in polluters. If it is handed over to us, we can book cases under Forest Act 1882 and remand people in judicial custody. We are not blaming the WRO for not maintaining the channel, we are only suggesting that preservation of the marshland would be easier if the channel were handed over to us,” a senior Forest official argued. Ironically, it was for the very reason that the government had ensured that the society has, in its general body, representatives of Chennai Metro Water, Chennai Corporation and PWD, so that issues pertaining to pollution could be addressed. When contacted, a highly placed engineer of WRO said they were not considering the proposal to hand over the channel to Forest department.