Chennai: While dealing with the batch of municipal solid waste cases on Monday, the National Green Tribunal's Southern Bench passed strict orders to the representatives of civic bodies - to restore Pallavaram and Sembakkam lakes and to scientifically close Kannadapalyam dumpyard at Tambaram.
The bench comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member P.S. Rao has asked the Sembakkam municipal commissioner — who appeared at the tribunal — to formulate a solution to restore the lake.
Even though solid waste is no more dumped at the bunds of water bodies, the question of restoration has become a long-awaited problem, which drove local activists to move the National Green Tribunal.
Take the case of Sembakkam and Pallavaram lakes. The pristine water bodies, which were the main sources for jasmine cultivation here has borne the human intervention for decades, resulting in habitat destruction.
‘Restore Sembakkam lake scientifically’
The 108-acred water body has shrunk to less than half, after the civic body started dumping waste 15 years ago, as a measure to curb encroachments.
Sembakkam municipality had stopped the dumpage, a year ago, following the tribunal's order, but the desecration still prevails.
Explaining the status of Sembakkam lake, a former councilor and the petitioner, S. Lakshmipathy Raja said, "For 15 continuous years, waste from all the 15 wards was dumped here. The municipality now transfers the waste to Tambaram municipality, which sends it to the waste processing plant at Vengadamangalam. But, what is the status of the existing waste?" he questions.
Sembakkam municipal commissioner, in his response said that they are awaiting a report from Anna University on scientific way of decomposition or excavation of waste. The report would be submitted before the tribunal on November 18.
Pallavaram lake restoration: Transfer funds to PWD
Though the order for the restoration of Pallavaram lake was given more than an year ago, internal disputes between various offices - Pallavaram municipality, public works department and municipal administration and water Supply department (MAWS) - has caused a delay. While the civic body and PWD fought over the ownership of the lake, MAWS has not transferred the funds yet.
The bench on Monday ordered the water supply department and the municipality to transfer the funds for the lake restoration.
The water supply department which passed a government order of 22.03 crores to restore Pallavarama and its neighbouring lakes has not allotted the funds to PWD. "Pallavaram Municpality should pay their share for the restoration by Friday, while water supply department should transfer the funds by 16 November," the bench ordered.
Kannadapalyam dumpyard to turn into a garden
The dumpyard, which was the primary site to the local bodies of South Chennai to dispose their solid waste, takes no more waste, thanks to the processing plant at Vengadamangalam project. However, as the question of existing waste still pertains, the tribunal asked for an explanation from Tambaram Commissioner on the next hearing.
Talking to Deccan Chronicle, Tambaram commissioner C. Madhivanan said, "Through bio-mining, the existing garbage would be levelled. It would then be rolled and covered with a sheet of mud to convert to a garden. We had already given the contract and the work is expected to commence next month."
