Cooum restoration gets CRZ nod.

In what could be a significant move towards the implementation of the integrated eco-restoration of the Cooum, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has granted Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for projects from the river mouth to the Chetpet railway bridge.

Under the eco-restoration project, the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT) proposes the implementation of 60 sub-projects, of which 20 sub-projects fall in CRZ areas on either side of the tidal estuary.

Some of the sub-projects include development of parks, maintenance of walkways, desilting, laying of interceptors and modular sewage treatment plants, and flora and mangrove plantation.

The proposal was considered by the Expert Appraisal Committee of the MoEF thrice last year and the clearance was given on June 28 this year.

Even though successive governments have been talking about the revival of the river for decades, the real push came during the DMK’s regime in 2006-11, when M.K. Stalin was the deputy chief minister.

Despite it being Mr. Stalin’s pet project, former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, whose party succeeded the DMK in 2011, decided to go ahead with the project and inaugurated it in September 2015.

The project aims to find alternative ways to stop sewage inlets into the river, improve flood-carrying capacity, resettle and rehabilitate slum dwellers, restore biodiversity and ensure riverfront development.

Though launched with big hopes, the project has progressed in fits and starts. Officials of the line departments claim the delay was primarily due to the CRZ restrictions.

In fact, a few departments had even issued work orders without the knowledge that some of the sub-projects required CRZ clearance, sources said.

THE HINDU