Eco-restoration of Adyar creek and estuary, on 300 acres, is likely to take off soon.
Stipulating four conditions, the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has recommended coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance for the project.
According to officials, the expert appraisal committee had instructed the government to trap all the sewage outfalls presently connected to Adyar river/creek and divert it to the existing sewage network before opening the sand bar.
The committee has also directed that all sewage networks should be eventually diverted to the sewerage treatment plant for final treatment.
MoEF has stipulated no sewage effluent or industrial effluent should be allowed to enter Adyar creek/river within the project area as committed, said an official.
MoEF has also told the authorities there should not be construction of any permanent structure within the project area and only activities permissible under CRZ Notification, 2011, should be carried out.
Besides, the project proponent — Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust — has been asked to obtain approval from the Chennai Corporation for accepting the excavated soil and debris from the choked Adyar creek.
The clearance has been granted keeping with the spirit of the Tamil Nadu State CZMA recommendation and the MoEF has a word of praise for the good work done in Phase-1 of the project, said the official.
The project proponent had argued they wanted the project to be taken up and completed in one go but the expert appraisal committee was clearly not for opening the sand bar and letting any untreated effluent into the sea. At present, Adyar river and creek receive a large quantity of untreated effluent, said the official.
