Over 5,500 families under siege due to sea erosion

Chennai: The three-km coast between Ennore and Ernavoor in North Chennai, ravaged by tsunami waves in 2004,  is once again under siege. This time, it’s due to sea erosion. Over 5,500 families or 1.5 lakh people, mostly fisherfolk fear displacement. Incidentally, these families were tsunami victims.

According to the report of advocate commissioner, who has been appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) here, residents of various areas in Ennore and Ernavoor like Serial Nagar, Chinna Kuppam, Thalan and Ernavoor Kuppam are living in pathetic condition facing potential danger of their houses being dragged into the sea.

The report says the sea has virtually caved inwards, posing even more danger to the residents. The Ennore Expressway and a few big factories situated along the artery are also facing threat. The sea wall at present is only a source of protection against the sea entering the land. However, during cyclones and storms there is every chance of water breaching the wall and flooding the land.

For instance, there is hardly a 10-20 feet gap between the sea wall and the houses at Ernavoor Kuppam. At Chinna Kuppam, the houses are situated 30 feet away from sea wall. Likewise, at Periyakkuppam houses are less than 10 feet away. People in these places are literally living on the edge, said  Abdul Saleem, Special Government Pleader for Tamil Nadu, who shared a copy of the report with Deccan Chronicle.

Sundar of the department of ocean engineering, IIT-Madras, who carried out a scientific study, has also validated the fear and said  the stretch between Ennore and Ernavoor Kuppam has been experiencing perennial erosion requiring immediate action.

He suggested the Tamil Nadu government  build a groyne field of 19 groynes. The groyne field was designed and finalised by IIT Madras as per the guidelines under the Coastal Engineering Manual. Sundar recommended that the entire groyne field be constructed in two phases and suggested the government to assess the characteristic of the sea bed through bore hole surveys prior to construction of the groyne.