Past those huge iron gates lies an entirely different world. Stepping into the Adyar Poonga (Park) from the crazy traffic on the road, you are instantaneously surrounded by lush greenery and water bodies that don’t stink. The sounds of birds chirping fill the air and, for a moment, you wonder if you are in Chennai! You certainly feel like Mary Lennox discovering the secret garden.

Creating public awareness in the Park... by signage (above) and interpretation hut (below).

Chennai’s very first eco-park, the Adyar Poonga, is an eco-restoration project sprawling over 58 acres adjoining the Adyar Creek and river. The Adyar Poonga Trust, now renamed the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT), has been busy working on the first phase of this project for a year and the park is slated to be opened to the public on the eve of Pongal. Phanindra Reddy, MD and CEO, Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services (TNUIFSL), says, “A green centre with models of restoration plans, audio visual presentations, a library, and documentation centre have been planned at the Adyar Poonga. This is only the first phase. The second phase of the project includes working on restoring the adjoining areas, 300 acres east of the Poonga.”

In 2006, TNUIFSL was appointed to identify and conceptualise a master plan for the area near the Adyar Estuary. The Pitchandikulam Forest Consultants, Auroville, were appointed consultants for this large-scale eco-restoration project.

“Development of a project such as the Poonga to this extent is a rarity. The Adyar Poonga will be a fulcrum for environmental education and we hope to make it an environmental and educative site, not just a recreation area,” promises Reddy.

The area, once a thriving wetland, was reduced to nothing but a large wasteland owing to excessive pollution of the nearby areas and large-scale garbage dumping in its waters. “When we took over the site, it was a large dumping ground; the waters were blackish and reeking. The area had fallen prey to various anti-social elements and drinking, gambling and prostitution were becoming increasingly common. What we are doing today is bringing back the area to its pristine beauty,” says Reddy.

A view of the Adyar Creek from the Park.

Over 130,000 saplings native to the area have been planted. Water lilies, mangroves and a variety of grasses as well as numerous native species have been planted to bring it back to its original habitat of a natural tropical dry evergreen forest.

Demonstration areas for sewage treatment plants, solid waste management and an alternative energy park are on the cards. A green centre, children’s play area, amphitheatre, herbal garden, weather station, and education centre are other additional facilities planned. The Environment Training Centre (ETC) is in full swing with an ongoing programme for schoolchildren. “Twenty students, passionate about environmental issues, from twelve selected schools are taking part in this seven-month-long programme. Eco-clubs in various schools have also been active in making students more aware and have been visiting the Poonga,” says Preston Ahimaz, Head, Environment Education, Pitchandikulam Forest Consultants.

Beautiful and intricately carved animals on stone pillars and signage (over 100) with eco-friendly messages for the public adorn the park in order to make it not only an attractive but an educative site. Various signboards present a detailed history of the park’s habitat and are located across its acres. A weather vane on the education centre is the latest addition to the infrastructure and is a replica of the red headed vulture. Theme-based interpretation huts on subjects such as invertebrates, fish and reptiles present facts through text and pictures, to educate the public. “There are many seen and unseen benefits of this project. The people need to benefit from such a large project and educating the public is part of the sensitisation process. The art work is a step towards making the Poonga an all-round educative and eco-restoration site. When we are developing 58 acres of the city, at the end of the day it has to benefit the common man. People need to realise the value and history behind such a bio-diverse park when they are here, thus the art work,” explains Preston.

As the project is nearing its final stages of completion, many new species have been recorded here. Around 90 species of birds, 25 species of reptiles and amphibians, 50 species of butterflies, 20 different dragonflies and 30 species of fish have been identified so far. All these are indicators of the progress the project is making. “The green frog, a protected species, under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, and the soft shell turtle, also an endangered species, are now a common sight at the Poonga. The Black Captain Kingfisher and White Bellied Sea Eagle that have been missing in the area are now nesting and breeding here again. Butterfly species such as the Painted Lady and Black Raja have been spotted as well. These are all indicators that the project is a success. Restoring a natural area is a tough task and we have restored more than 60% of the natural habitat, which is great,” enthuses Preston.

Efforts to make this a low maintenance park have been given prior importance. Preston says, “A ticketing system will be introduced. There will be a ban on bringing food, plastic and radios into the park. People need to come here to enjoy nature in its glory. We need to ensure that no such extraneous footprints are left behind by the people once it is opened to the public.”

Although the Adyar Poonga is making significant progress, the history of the plan needs to be highlighted. Earlier proposals were in favour of converting the wetland into a bus depot, car park, commercial complex etc. These were later rejected by the High Court.

Advocate and Principal Advisor, Exnora International, T.K. Ramkumar says, “When proposals to convert the Creek into sites for government buildings were made about 15-20 years ago, a case was filed in the High Court, and the Consumer Action Group, and NGOs such as INTACH, Exnora, Care Earth and the Madras Environmental Society opposed the plan. The court ordered restoring the Creek as a wetland and more recently, after many years, the court granted permission to develop the area into an eco-park.”

“A monitoring committee with one representative from every NGO was set up to ensure that the development was according to the proposed plan,” he adds.

The project is regarded a success in many ways. But the long-term feasibility of the project is what is being questioned. Initial objections to the project were about the artificial landscaping and the vegetation types being grown in the Poonga. “As a restoration effort, the plan has been successful. The bulk of the debris has been removed and the present development can be considered a pilot project. But there are issues that need to be dealt with and only time can say if the project is truly a success. The authorities have been co-operative and made necessary changes,” says Ramkumar.

Vijay Kumar, Secretary of the Madras Naturalists’ Society, sees this project as an example to sensitise the public to the importance of restoring the ecology of the Adyar Estuary. He says, “Effectively, the Adyar Poonga has now eco-restored the Creek. It is hoped that before long the estuarine eco-system will also be restored. The enormous effort needed to eco-restore what was lost, in a scientific manner, must make citizens realise the importance to save what is left, and if this is appreciated the Adyar Poonga will be a welcome first step.”

The project must, however, be seen as being something more than a mere ‘beautification’ drive. The larger issue at hand is reviving and sustaining the Adyar River as an entity and a unique eco-system. Unless both stages of the project are completed as planned, the ecology of the Creek will be far from restored.

Ramkumar points out, “Whether the project is restoration or landscaping is a big question. Also, unless a link between the Poonga and the sea is established, tidal exchange is impossible and the sustainability of the project is at stake. If the expressway being planned materialises, the Poonga will be affected and the water bodies in the adjoining areas will be severely damaged.”

A project such as the Adyar Poonga is a sort of revolution in the city, no doubt. However, the bigger issue is that of its contribution to ecology and environment. How effective such a plan will be in sustaining itself in the long run and preserving endangered eco-systems is something only time will hell. The crux of the issue leading to the creation of such projects should not be forgotten. It should be remembered that creating a sustainable structure of ecology, something which is more than a cosmetic beautification drive and a fancy name, needs no artificial interference.