Fly ash still choking Buckingham Canal, backwaters, National Green Tribunal told
The Hindu
Joint Committee says ageing pipes are leaking slurry into the waterbodies
A report submitted by a Joint Committee, appointed by the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal, stated that the fly ash generated from Stages 1 and 2 of the North Chennai Ennore Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) has greatly reduced the volume of water flowing to the sea from the Buckingham Canal and its backwaters. The waterbodies had become pools of ash, the report said.
The committee found that although the leakage of fly ash was not noticed during an on-site inspection, the accumulation persisted in the backwaters and the Buckingham Canal.
“This is due to the leakage of ash slurry from ageing pipes and due to plants directly discharging the slurry into waterbodies. Livelihood of fisherfolk has been affected, and this has led to the abatement of fishing activities. Mangrove patches have vanished due to the sedimentation of fly ash deposits,” the committee submitted.