Chennai: Even after several orders of cleaning and desilting the southern parts of Buckingham canal by National Green Tribunal almost every year before monsoon, discharge of toxic effluents from the nearby industries and dumping of waste continues.
The long stretch of Buckingham canal that extends for 105 km between Kotturpuram and Marakkanam along Kottivakkam, Palavakkam and Neelankarai is polluted due to dumping of garbage, industrial effluents and discharge of sewage from nearby areas creating anguish among residents owing to environmental destruction. Though the water resources department has already warned against dumping of garbage into the canal, the open channels of drains and sewage lines are a common sight.
“Especially during the night hours, large mass of chemical toxins and waste of industries and shops are discharged into the canal. These pollutants not only block the flow of running water, but also creates problems including mosquito menace, unbearable bad odour and sanitation issues,” says R Raji, a resident at Kottivakkam. She further added that the current condition of canal needs an urgent treatment by authorities but repeated complaints by residents have gone unheeded.
The canal was cleaned previously after National Green Tribunal had given orders to de-silt it after rain. But no further maintenance has been undertaken by the authorities, allege residents. The industrial waste and sewage lines of residents are connected to the canal due to the lack of proper underground drainage system. The drains are constructed linked with the canal and there is no cleaning of the waste before being discharged into the canal.
Another resident M. Poornima, insisted that government should create more awareness among the public on maintaining the cleanliness of the canal explaining its significance. Immediate action should be taken on the industries discharging toxins into the canal. Alternative space for dumping the garbage with embarked dumping yards and proper underground drainage system can prevent further destruction of the canal.
When contacted, PWD officials said the canal is cleaned every year periodically and assured of action in favour of the public and residents based on the proposals and complaints received. Officials of water resources department say that panchayats have been instructed to take legal action against those discharging waste in the canal and various signboards have been installed warning people against dumping garbage in the water body.
