The National Green Tribunal has directed the Public Works Department to remove the construction debris, which it dumped in the Foreshore Estate, and dispose it off as per solid waste rules, besides submitting a status report on the same by November 2.
The directive on Thursday came after Express brought to light that the PWD, while adhering to an earlier directive of the tribunal to clear construction debris dumped near the Adyar Estuary, dumped it on the beach near Srinivasapuram.
K Saravanan of Urur Kuppam, on whose petition the Green Tribunal passed the earlier order, objected to the move by the PWD and approached the tribunal again. He said that the PWD, after removing the debris from the Adyar Estuary, is dumping the same in another area which is also within the Coastal Regulation Zone.
Contractors carrying out the operation at that time defended the move, saying it was done to level the beach for the immersion of Ganesh idols, sparking off a protest led by Green activist Nityanand Jayaram.
“Coastal Regulation Zone notification does not exempt divine forces for dumping on the beach,” he had stated.
The tribunal also directed the PWD to file another status report before the next hearing on November 2 indicating the action taken by it to clear the debris. It also directed the PWD to enforce scientific methods to clean the site. “Without entering into any controversy, we direct the opposite parties to use scientific methods to clean the site,” the tribunal observed.
The row had earlier erupted after the PWD allegedly dumped construction material to build a dirt road for opening a sand bar in the Adyar River Estuary.
The road fell within the high tide line and was being laid nearly up to the river mouth, barely a metre away from the hatchery for Olive Ridley turtles.
The Green Tribunal ordered the removal of all debris dumped to create the dirt road within a period of three months from the order, delivered on August 7.