Delay in obtaining CRZ clearance has emerged as a stumbling block for the Integrated Cooum Ecorestoration Project.
The Chennai Corporation has issued work order for a 48-km fence along the Cooum and eight of the nine parks along the river.
But the civic body is unable to start the work owing to the delay in obtaining CRZ clearance. Work is not likely to start before this financial year.
“The CRZ clearance is expected by March 2016,” said an official associated with the eco restoration project.
At a meeting on Thursday, Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust asked the Chennai Corporation to wait for CRZ clearance before commencing work on the 48-km fence and parks.
A 9.6-km stretch of the river from Chetpet bridge to the river mouth requires CRZ clearance for eco restoration.
The delay in initiating work on obtaining CRZ clearance by the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust is said to have affected the eco restoration project. With the model code of conduct for the Assembly elections likely to be in force around the time, next year, when CRZ clearance would be given, the work is expected to be delayed further.
The Corporation has removed 1275 tonnes of garbage along the river so far. Work on solid waste removal has begun at an estimated cost of Rs. 7 crore. It has completed biometric survey of 2500 families in areas such as EVR Salai in ward 101, Thideer Nagar in zone 9 near Pantheon Road and MSP Nagar.
Work order for eight parks has been issued at an estimated cost of Rs. 39 crore. Work order for fencing along a 48-km stretch has been issued at Rs. 52.96 crore.
The entire work is expected to be completed by 2018. The Water Resources Department (WRD) has started cleaning some stretches of the river. But demarcation of boundaries is yet to be completed.
Stretches between Chetpet and Padikuppam causeway and Vanagaram and Paruthipattu near Avadi have been cleaned as part of the work.
