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There should be coordinated government action to protect wetlands and reduce flooding in the Pallikaranai watershed, said the ‘Citizen’s Charter for Pallikaranai Watershed’, compiled by the Chennai Wetlands Action Collective (CWAC) and Oorvani Foundation, with the Federation of OMR Residents Associations (FOMRRA).
The charter was released by the Pallikaranai Collective, a body of resident welfare associations, conservation groups, civil society organisations, activists, and citizens, on Wednesday, September 9.
The concerns and recommendations listed in the charter were discussed at the Chennai Press Club on Thursday, September 10.
It highlighted that Chennai is a rapidly growing city, which has witnessed severe flooding, recurring water scarcity, extreme heat, and contamination of drinking water. The degradation of the wetlands has increased the vulnerability of the city.
The Pallikaranai watershed is one of Chennai’s most flood-prone and rapidly urbanising regions. According to the charter, the watershed covers 65 major lakes and hundreds of ponds, all linked to the Pallikaranai marsh. It is plagued by concerns like encroachments, sewage, solid waste pollution, and blocked canals.
The charter has recommended a collective approach to tackle the concerns, instead of treating the lakes individually.
Issues of various lakes
Sathya Anand of the Saving Nanganallur Lake group said that the outlet channel completely disappears as the sewage starts entering the lake.
In Velachery, Balakrishnan from the Tansi Nagar Welfare Association said that debris and encroachments interfere with water flow, and said that despite the court orders, the channel has not been fully restored.
Atish Baisantry from the OMR Gandhinagar Plot Owners Welfare Association said that even though the Navallur lake has been restored, it lacks the sufficient outlet capacity. He added that construction has led to blocked natural waterways, which has caused flooding in the area.
The charter calls for an independent, interdepartmental co-operative to examine the policies and to implement an exercisable plan. The charter was drafted after a consultation with the Pallikaranai Collective on June 20. The aim is to provide a common framework regarding the concerns raised about the watershed.
This story was written by a student interning with TNM.
