Chennai: Haunting memories of December deluge stay afresh for these two Manapakkam residents who have written to the minister for environment, forest and climate change, Prakash Javadekar to notify the River Regulations Zone (RRZ) policy on the lines of Coastal Regulation Zone.
In a letter to the minister, environmentalists sought a ban on construction on the north side of Adyar river and suggested amendments to draft RRZ policy.
Former senior divisional manager of an insurance company, V. Nagarajan, and retired additional general manager of new project, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), C.V. Paneerselvam, have appealed to the central government to amend the uncertain clauses in RRZ policy.
It may be noted that the RRZ notification, which was formulated under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is awaiting the notification of State governments.
Talking to DC, C.V. Paneerselvam said the notification would curb unauthorised constructions on river plains. “We have recommended certain changes in the draft which allows permitted activities after 100 metres to the outer periphery. As embankments being a failure to rivers, High Flood Line (HFL) should be considered and permitted activities should be allowed only after 500 metres of HFL,”
According to the draft, HFL line is marked according to the most frequented flood. But the line should be noted only after accounting hundred years of flood, said Panneerselvam.
Reiterating the significance of the notification, Nagarajan said the exploitation of the rivers would be diminished. “The secondary runway at airport was constructed at the edge of Adyar river, without considering the HFL of 2005 floods. We faced the brunt as many have lost their life time savings,” he recollected.
