Controversial plan to lay Kovalam storm drain gets expert panel nod

CHENNAI: An expert appraisal committee has recommended the Union Environment Ministry to grant Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the Integrated Storm Water Drainage (ISWD) project in Kovalam Basin. The project was mired in controversy as the Chennai Corporation had initially proposed to construct storm water drains and outfalls along the sandy beaches along the East Coast Road (ECR) and in the CRZ 1A areas, which are ecologically sensitive and Olive Ridley Turtle nesting grounds. However, GCC has reportedly now shelved the project. The Kovalam basin is divided into three watersheds— M1 (Pallikaranai watershed), M2 (Buckingham Canal watershed) and M3 (South Coast watershed). GCC officials told TNIE that there was resistance to the M3 segment, which has been done away with. The Expert Appraisal Committee has recommended CRZ clearance for the M2 section. But a review of documents, including minutes of the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA) meeting, reveals that the locations covered for construction of storm water drains include coastal areas like Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai, Injambakkam, Uttadi etc. Originally part of the M3 segment. However, GCC chief engineer S Rajendran clarified that no construction will be done on the eastern side (seaward side) of the ECR. The mentioned coastal area extends up to the western side (landward side) of the ECR where storm water drains will be constructed and drainage will go into the Buckingham Canal. V Suresh, a lawyer and a resident of Kapaleeshwar Nagar in Nilankarai, says he is still worried and skeptical. “Neither in the minutes of the TNSCZMA meeting nor in the minutes of the Expert Appraisal Committee meeting it is mentioned that the construction will be done only in the western part of the ECR. It should have been mentioned in specific terms. If GCC does anything on the sandy beach areas, we will again approach the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT),” he told TNIE. Suresh represented several resident welfare associations that opposed the ISWD project and moved the NGT and obtained a stay order in 2021. In its final order, the NGT expressed displeasure against the GCC for working without CRZ clearance. As per the revised plan, the GCC proposes to construct storm water drains covering a total length of 121.94 km, of which 6.32 km falls in CRZ areas comprising 53 out of 56 outfalls. The total cost of the project is Rs 659.82 crore. As per CRZ Notification, 2011, storm water drains and supporting structures for pumping are permissible activities. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority’s Second Master Plan 2026 classifies Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Nilankarai, Okkiyamathuraipakkam, Injambakkam, Karapakkam, Sholinganallur and Uthandi as ‘aquifer recharge zones’.