| SAVE ADYAR CREEK CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED |
IT IS ACTION NOW OR LOSE
THE CREEK FOREVER!
The youth have got together for a showdown
with vested interests that are trying to push the Adyar Creek, its surrounding wetlands
and supportive eco-system into the past, a thing that was. In a campaign launch titled,
"Save Adyar Creek", young volunteers just out of college, who have worked in the
Adyar Creek region, studied its eco-system, conducted several surveys and planted mangrove
saplings along its bank, have formed a crack team to tackle the various issues related to
the saving of the creek. Chief among their priorities is to create public awareness and
support for this campaign.
Many of us may not be aware that the Adyar
creek is a tidal creek, a backwater system, formed near the Adyar estuary (the mouth of
the Adyar River), supporting a lot of wildlife, migratory birds, flora and fauna right in
the heart of the city. This despite the high level of pollution found upstream of the
Adyar River.
Why is Adyar Creek important?
The Creek has good bio-diversity with more
than 70 species of flora, supporting a rich variety of insects and birds, crabs and fish.
Once, 200 species of migratory birds visited the creek and quite a number of them still
come.
The estuary is a nutrient-rich spawning
ground for aquatic life and about 500 families of fishermen from Srinivasapuram depend on
this for their livelihood.
An Orissa-like situation is being avoided
here because of the creek-estuary that plays a key role in controlling floods in the area.
The wetlands that form part of the creek
help greatly to recharge the groundwater.
Mangrove trees that grow along the coasts,
in estuaries, function as natural barriers against cyclones and storms and help increase
fish life. Their prop roots reduce tidal currents, cause extensive deposition of mud and
silt and provide surfaces for attachment of organisms. The penetration of these roots and
burrows of organisms like the crabs here, are indispensable for mineral recycling.
Also, the natural estuarine vegetation plays
a major role in cleaning the polluted waters of the Adyar River.
What is happening here?
The original creek area consisted of about 100
acres. Of this, roughly about half the extent remains as a creek, where the tidal effect
is felt twice a day. The other half is either encroached or "reclaimed" for
development. The Survey of India map published in the 1960s shows the full extent of the
creek. However, in any recent map of Chennai one whole portion of the existing creek has
been blanked out and is marked as "landmass". Nothing could be farther from the
truth. Moreover, the complete North bank of the river is marked lush green. In reality,
there are only Government buildings here. The creek, once a paradise, has now been
practically ruined. Heavy encroachment along the creek has resulted in gross pollution of
the wetland, turning it into a health hazard. Moreover, stagnation of rain water has
turned the creek into a breeding ground for mosquitoes. To worsen the existing situation,
officials sketch plans to 'develop' (by reclamation, not restoration) the creek and fill
it with city garbage as well as construction debris.
Thus the area is slowly filled up illegally in
the name of development and concrete jungle is replacing its mangrove and other natural
vegetation.
The most recent aggravation is the attempt to
lay a road along the bank of the creek that will be disastrous for the eco-system. This
will cut off the wetland from high tide, cut off the finger of the creek extending into
the land (this finger went right up to R.K. Mutt Road in the past but is now filled up by
hutment and stands greatly reduced), and also disrupt the natural and planted mangroves.
The youth have set the ball rolling and it is up to the public to join forces with them
and save one of the last remaining natural eco-systems in our midst.
WE DO IT NOW OR WE LOSE THE CREEK FOREVER!
This is the campaign's watchword that clearly shows the urgency of the matter. Those of
you who support this campaign, please write to editor@chennaionline.com
and participate in the signature campaign.
Responses For Adyar
Creek Campaign
Akshaya
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