Pallikaranai Marsh - Ray of Hope !

Originally, like any other low lying coastal area, this Pallikaranai Marsh had been a vast stretch of land mass with MSL close to zero. In this area, Sea Water used to come in during high tide and recede during low tide leaving some sea water in the low lying areas. During monsoon periods, rain water will mix with the residual water left in the low lying areas. In the exposed land, vegetation, including trees would grow. Slowly with the population growth and with the construction of the two Roads ( ECR and OMR), the natural Sea water passages which existed across the Bucking Canal have been completely cut off. Now, there is no flow of Sea Water during hightides. There are no connections to the Sea between Adyar and Muttukadu. Practically it is only the Rain Water and the Sewages carried by the various canals that are discharged into the small area left out as Marsh. Now it is purely a Water body with no open land left out. It has an area of about 8KM North-South and 3 KM East - West( 6000 Acres). Even in this area, about 100 acres has been used for laying 200' Road, 450 acres have been swallowed by our Chennai Corporation for Garbage dumping, 15 acres for building STP, about 50 acres for constructing MRTS Station, another 100 acres for various other purposes. We shall be happy that at least now there is awareness and there is a ray of hope for saving the "Marsh". Half of the water body on the Southern side of 200' Road has been declared as Forest with the tireless efforts of Care Earth, Save Pllikaranai Marsh Forum, Environmentalists, etc. Also, based on a PIL filed by Sri Sai Nagar Residents Association and others, the High Court has appointed an Expert Committee to give its opinion as to whether the Chennai Corporation is right in dumping the Garbage in the Marsh in the light of the Technical / Legal aspects prevailing today. We can be sure that the Expert Committee is fully aware of all the Technical / Legal aspects and they will certainly recommend a strong NO to dumping in this Marsh. Difficulty faced by Chennai Corporation in Source Sgeregation (despite a clear cut lead time of 3 years given by MSW Act 2000 till 2003), can not be an excuse for continued illegal occupation of the Marsh by the Corporation. Please note, once it is filled with Garbage, nothing can be done. It is our duty to save at least whatever is left out ! K.Periasamy