The ad hoc manner in which junior engineers of the Chennai Corporation and the Public Works Department have gone ahead with the 'upkeep' of the Adyar River will further damage the ecology of the estuary without solving the mosquito menace.

In March, local staff of the Public Works Department excavated a tidal mudflat near Broken Bridge in the Adyar Estauary instead of merely opening up the river mouth. A tidal mudflat is an important estuarine natural feature that serves as a feeding ground for wading birds and crustaceans, such as crabs. Further damage was avoided due to the timely intervention of the Corporation Commissioner Vikram Kapur. However, a few weeks later, an excavator employed by Chennai Corporation chopped down the vegetation on a riverine island visible from the new Adyar Bridge. When confronted, a Corporation engineer said that it was a mistake and that they were authorised only to remove water hyacinths as part of the programme to control mosquitoes.

Representatives of the Urur Kuppam fishers' panchayat, Save Chennai Beaches Campaign, and Madras Naturalists' Society have pointed out that the remaining islands of mangroves in the estuary are home to the last remaining stands of mangroves in the estuary. The vegetations on these islands are important breeding and nesting habitats. They cautioned that engineers and excavator operators are unlikely to know the difference between the thorny bushes and mangroves. They urged the Corporation Commissioner to undertake the mosquito control campaign in a planned and transparent manner, and have assured him of their cooperation.

The groups recommend that the deforested island should be revegetated with mangroves. If left as it is, thorny bushes will quickly spring back. As for the other islands and tidal flats, action should be taken only after a clear plan is made public and the inputs of experts, residents and fisherfolk sought.

For more information, contact details are:

Saravanan
Urur Kuppam Meenavar Panchayat
91763 31717

Vijay
Madras Naturalists Society
98400 90875

Nityanand Jayaraman
Save Chennai Beaches Campaign
94440 82401

Editor's Note: It was not long after this that the Chief Minister told the Legislature that funds have been sanctioned for mangrove regeneration in the Adyar Estuary to complete Phase 2 of the Estuary conservation project, the first stage of which was the development of the Adyar Poonga. Welcome news indeed, and we look forward to fulfilment.