A news item a couple of weeks ago reported that the High Court had ordered the stoppage of work on the mouth of the Adyar River. The activity, ostensibly the clearing the mouth and removing blockages, was, it transpired, at the behest of private parties who had a vested interest in ensuring that the river changed its course. There was much jubilation on the court order. But this is merely the beginning and a closer investigation reveals a far deeper malaise – consistent violation of regulations that protect waterbodies and their environs in the city.

The Coastal Regulation Zones Rules of 2011 govern all construction and development activities close to the coast. Yet, the Government is planning a three-lane bridge over the Adyar River close to the point where it meets the sea. It transpires that the authorities are yet to even apply for CRZ clearance, but have decided to proceed with the construction on the grounds that it is only a modification of an existing structure for which no permission is needed. The structure referred to, no doubt, is the now defunct Elphinstone Bridge.

If the authorities look a little further east, nearer the coast, they will see the broken bridge, a longstanding testimony to what Nature’s fury can wreak to structures on our coastline. Yet, the work on the new bridge is to proceed with no reflection or thought. Sand bags have been placed across the river’s mouth preliminary to the construction and these, along with the sand bars that reportedly give the river (adai (T) = block; aar (T) = river) its name, have caused the water to stagnate. A foul stench emanates from the water and mosquitoes breed unchecked. In response to complaints, the PWD has been desilting the mouth, but the root cause of the problem lies with the CMDA and a rather inactive Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA) which has chosen to turn a blind eye to most of the work going on near the river and the sea.

Another instance of the TNSCZMA’a inaction is a temporary road near the Srinivasapuram beach which was later paved and made permanent. This has become a convenient thoroughfare for lorries that carry away sand illegally mined from the area. Repeated complaints have brought a standard reply: the road is a temporary one and so does not require CRZ clearance! But that it is already a permanent structure is clear for all to see.

CRZ rules are also violated by private parties who have been reclaiming land all across the northern bank of the Adyar. This has become a new residential area of sorts and further reclamation is going on. Similarly, there has been continuous reclassification of areas that are on the southern fringes of the city. Places like Kottivakkam were once classified under CRZ as areas for rural development. These have now been changed in status to ‘urban shorelines’ where multistoreyed construction can be allowed. How this has been made possible is not clear to anyone.

Environment activists have been crying foul, claiming that all these projects are playing havoc with the aquatic life of the area, besides exposing people to threats such as tsunamis. Several applications have been filed under the Right to Information Act, but all these have only seen the papers moving from Department to Department with none wanting to own responsibility. It is clear that this game of passing the buck will continue for long and builders will make merry till Nature takes matters in hand and teaches a firm lesson that we are unlikely to forget in a hurry.