Remove temporary structures from Ennore, directs NGT

CHENNAI: The Southern Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the TANTRANSCO (Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation Limited) to remove temporary structures for enabling erection of electricity towers within Ennore wetlands.

In its direction, the Tribunal said that the TANTRANSCO should ensure that the temporary structures are removed even if the erection of towers is not complete in view of the ensuing Northeast monsoon. "As it is generally expected that there will be copious rainfall during the monsoon and there should be a free flow of water on the river Kosasthalaiyar to avoid flooding," the direction said.

The Tribunal added, "If need be, it is open to the authorities to reconstruct the temporary structure for erecting the towers after the monsoon is over."

Fishermen of Ennore filed a complaint with the NGT against the erection of electricity towers.

The TANTRANSCO has availed CRZ clearances for erecting 13 towers assuring that none of the towers will be erected inside the eco sensitive locations like mangroves. The towers are being erected from 2021.

They also alleged that due to the towers built on the river, the extent of the river has been reduced which will result in reduction in flood carrying capacity. The towers and pathways will impede the tidal flow of the sea and keep the fishes entering the river from the sea. This will affect the livelihood of fishermen, they expressed.