The lack of clarity in planning development schemes along the Cooum river and the Cooum restoration project and social security issues of people who are resettled have to be addressed before their implementation, speakers at a seminar said here on Friday.
The seminar on ‘Development and Destruction on a waterway,’ organised by the Madras Institute of Development Studies, analysed environmental, social and technical issues related to the projects.
SUSTAIN’s managing trustee M.G.Devasahayam said the proposed elevated expressway project between Chennai Port and Maduravoyal would be an impediment to the flow of water in the Cooum river. An unhindered river flow was essential to keep the waterway clean, which is the goal of the proposed eco-restoration project.
He said the government took several measures such as land acquisition, eviction of slum dwellers and floating of tenders before getting clearance from Expert Appraisal Committee for Coastal Regulation Zone.
According to K.P.Subramaniam, former professor, Transportation Department, Anna University, the mandatory requirement to assess the impact on the environment and to conduct a public hearing was not followed for the elevated expressway project. The alignment was not safe with many hairpin bends, he said.
Advocate T.K.Ramkumar said slum dwellers along the Cooum banks contributed to only one or two per cent of pollution. He highlighted the need to stop discharge of raw sewage into the waterway as it was a major pollutant.
Former Advisor (Schemes) Water Resources Department M.Dheenadalayan said the Cooum riverbed must be desilted near the mouth where it joins with the sea to have sufficient flow and also prevent flooding of residential areas.
He charged that radial roads in Porur and Pallikaranai has led to division of water bodies and inundated the neighbouring areas.
Speakers also highlighted the problems of people who have been resettled in Semmencheri and Kannagi Nagar.
