Are we compromising on the coastline?
The draft plan proposed by the Tamil Nadu Government on the coastal management has drawn much criticism from environmentalists and fishermen. What irks environmentalists and citizens particularly is the government’s apathy and indifference in presenting an incomplete draft plan and then inviting a public hearing on the same.
Not only has the plan not followed the guidelines and preparation of CZMPs, as per Annexure-1 of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2011, hazard mapping seems to have also been compromised.
Besides the blatant violations, a large area of coastline along the ECR has been changed from CRZ III to CRZ II allowing for more free real estate development. This defeats the very purpose of the plan which aims to ensure livelihood of the fishermen community, protect the marine area and ensure sustainable development along the coastline.
Source: The New Indian Express
An SOS for the Paruthippattu lake in Avadi
For residents of Avadi, the Paruthippattu lake may soon become history. Such is the condition of the lake that the residents who once used the lake for drinking water, now see it as a wide dumping ground. Encroachment by land sharks, garbage dumping have all added to the current state of the lake.
Ironically, two years ago a restoration project report was drawn up which is lying undusted. With sewage and industrial waste freely flowing into the lake, the residents of the area also experience floods as the encroachments affect the free flow of water.
It was only recently that Chennai Corporation had announced restoration of water bodies in the city as part of the Smart City plan. The need of the hour however is swift action to restore the dying lakes on war footing.
Source: The Times of India
The never ending politics of water
Marina became the focus point once again for the police force and the Government, as social media was abuzz with reports of people taking to the beach to protest against the delay in constitution of the Cauvery Management Board and the alleged Government bias against Tamil Nadu. The police department swung into swift action blocking entry to the beach to prevent yet another Jallikattu kind of gathering. Few citizens who turned up in groups were taken into custody and later released.
Opposition parties on the other hand did not fail to capitalise on the situation and called for a state wide bandh and staged road rokos.
The bandh evoked mixed response in the city with a majority of private establishments — such as shops, eateries etc — remaining closed. However the ruling party AIADMK ensured that public transport was running and Amma canteens and TASMAC shops were open.
Source: The Wire | The Times of India
Chennai Corporation turns to drone survey for better civic management
Next time you spot a drone hovering above in your area, it could well be the Greater Chennai Corporation collecting images for better management. The drone mapping project is expected to help improve disaster management and possibly reduce encroachment in the future.
12 wards of Madhavaram zone, 15 wards each of Tondiarpet, Thiru-vi-ka Nagar, Ambattur, Annanagar zones and parts of Royapuram zone have been covered so far.
“All our operations are based on the directions of the airport authorities. We have posted one engineer in the Air Traffic Control to communicate in real time,” says R. Lalitha, Chennai Corporation Deputy Commissioner-Revenue and Finance, who is the head of operations.
Source: The Hindu