NGT warns of summoning WRD and State coastal authority officials over slow progress in removing invasive mussels from Ennore-Pulicat wetlands

National Green Tribunal warns officials over slow progress in removing invasive mussels from Ennore-Pulicat wetlands, demands detailed action plan.

The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal has warned that officials from the Water Resources Department (WRD) and the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority will be summoned if the progress in removing invasive mussels from Ennore-Pulicat wetlands continues to be slow.

Hearing a petition filed by an Ennore resident, the Bench, comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati, in its hearing on February 19, reviewed reports submitted by the Wetland Authority and the WRD and found them to be lacking in crucial details about the mussel removal process.

The charru mussels, locally known as kaaka aazhi, were identified as a significant threat to the Ennore Creek’s ecosystem, and authorities have been under pressure to act swiftly as it also obstructed boat movement. The reports mentioned dredging in a 500-m stretch between the Ennore Creek flyover and the North Chennai Thermal Power Station but failed to provide information on the method of removal, the scale of the operation, and a timeline for complete eradication.

The Bench expressed frustration with the slow progress, noting that biological eradication methods, as highlighted by studies from the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management and the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, had proven ineffective. Alternative methods have not been sufficiently explored.

Justice Sathyanarayana stressed the failure of the departments to address fundamental questions such as the number of personnel and equipment deployed, the distance covered, and preventive measures against recurrence. Despite recognising the issue two years ago, the Tamil Nadu government has yet to assess the full extent of the infestation in the creek. The absence of a clear strategy is concerning, as local ecosystems continue to suffer, the Bench noted.

During the hearing, the Counsel for the State government requested additional time to provide more details. The Bench has scheduled the next hearing for March 18 and warned that further action may be taken if no satisfactory progress is made.