AR5721 Critical writing

Environmental issue

Submitted by
Adelyn Jeffrey A (2019701002)
Muppidathi A (2019701017)
Preethi S (2019701021)
Rithanya S (2019701024)
Shruthikka R (2019701028)
Sofia Caroline J (2019701029)
Suriya KG (2019701031)
Surya S (2019701032)
Seetha Lakshmi N (2019701532)
Sri Theebalaxmi M (2019701535)

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING

ANNA UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI 600 025

1.ABSTRACT

In this report we discuss about the environmental issues and activities that highly
pollute land, water and air resources in Chennai. The challenges created by
urbanisation, encroachment and economic growth are critically questioned and
discussed below. Report is focused on the environmental issues before and after
the colonial rule based on the Chennai context. Based on the instances
presented, the conclusions and opinions are given on how to tackle the situation.

2.INTRODUCTION

Environment is the natural setting in which we live, which is bestowed to us by

our ancestors. Caring for our environment should be a collective responsibility
upon which everybody should undertake selflessly. The environment and our
surroundings form the essential element of our survival. Our world is more
industrialized now than ever before, which means that there are more emissions
into the air from the industries that have sprung up in the twenty-first century.
People have been so engrossed in other things that they have entirely forgotten
about the environment.

We live in a fast-paced world where everybody wants to be successful in their

careers, people want to engage themselves in a sport, and more and more
children are getting distracted by video games and television. All these factors
have made us not to take notice of what is going on around us and especially
what is going on in our environment. We should pause for a while and ask
ourselves what the environment will look like in fifty years from today if we don’t
take any action. Therefore, caring for the environment is a fundamental task that
we should assign ourselves for the benefit of this and the future generations.

Most of the environmental degradation has been brought about by human

activities. From uncontrolled hunting of rare species of birds and animals to
creating landfills that are a health hazard to humans, and also dangerous to the
animals. Saving our planet should be a priority that we should pursue tirelessly
and with a lot of zeal because it is the only way to reward the environment that
sustains us. By saving the planet, we will not only make the world a better place
for us now but also a beautiful, safe and clean place to live in for our future
generations. A lot of organizations, foundations and government agencies have

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dedicated a lot of their efforts, resources and time to championing this cause.
But conserving the environment should not be left to these groups alone because
it is a collective effort for every inhabitant of this planet.
There are fairly a number of explanations as to why we should conserve the
environment. Climate change and severe weather conditions are linked to
environmental degradation.

In last three decades post 1990 when India's private sector was allowed to compete
with public sector companies and multinational companies allowed to do business
in India there has been higher growth rate and development. The GDP growth rate
was over 6 percent between 1991 and 2004 and over 8.5 Percent between 2003 and
2007. In the period 2015 to 2019 the average GDP growth rate has been at 7.5%.
Between 1975 to 1990 India's GDP growth rate was at 5% per annum. India has done
spectacular progress in sectors of telecommunications, airlines, airports, ports,
highways, railways, motor vehicles, housing, power, banking, manufacturing and
others. These development reforms have reduced poverty and improved the human
condition but at the same time impacted the environment in terms of air pollution,
water pollution, land degradation, noise, waste generation, depletion of natural
resources, loss of biodiversity, loss of water bodies, deforestation, threat to animal
life and so on. Climate change through greenhouse gas emissions is an impact
which no one is untouched with. Though, development is essential, but balance
between development and environment is required which is the sustainable
development and is now well understood and practiced. A similar approach to
balance development, impact on environment and wellbeing of society is also
advocated by the green growth.

Achieving economic development is crucial for any country. But is it worth it if it

comes at the cost of environmental degradation? We were made aware of the ill-
effects of environmental degradation in our high schools. But what about the
economic implications of such issues? Or the benefit that sustainable development
can offer to any economy?

This report will break down the meaning & function of ‘environment’, the various
environmental issues & concerns Chennai is facing at the moment; and critically
analyse the situation.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. ABSTRACT

2. INTRODUCTION

3. LAND POLLUTION
3.1 Waste
3.1.1 Types of waste
3.1.2 Environmental impacts
3.1.3 Waste management – a challenge
3.1.4 Solutions
3.1.4.1 Waste – a problem or a resource
3.1.4.2 Recycling
3.2 Industrial agriculture (IA)
3.2.1 Environmental impacts of IA
3.2.2 Alternatives to IA
3.3 Industries and pollution
3.3.1 Land encroachment
3.3.2 Resources consumption
3.3.3 Environmental impacts
3.3.4 Land conversion
3.4 Mining of raw materials

4. WATER POLLUTION
4.1 Sources of water
4.1.1 Cooum river
4.1.2 Adyar river
4.1.3 Kosasthalaiyar river
4.2 Lakes of Chennai
4.3 Chennai floods
4.4 Yeri system
4.4.1 Kudumaramathu
4.5 Sand mining
4.6 Wet city to zero-water city
4.7 Climate change
4.8 Sea level rise

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5. AIR POLLUTION
5.1 Air pollution
5.1.1 Causes of pollution
5.1.2 Air pollution – local or long distance
5.1.3 Air pollution and climate change
5.1.4 Air pollution and sustainable development
5.1.5 Acts and policies
5.2 CO2 emission by building sector

6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)

7. CONCLUSION

8. BIBLIOGRAPHY

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3.LAND POLLUTION
3.1.Who produces waste?
Waste is an unavoidable by-product of most human activity. Economic
development and rising living standards have led to increase in the quantity and
complexity of generated waste. While industrial diversification and the provision
of expanded health-care facilities have added substantial quantities of industrial
hazardous waste and biomedical waste.
Waste affects people through its mismanagement and its technological
management. A lack of proper waste management leads to waste accumulation,
which attracts disease vectors, can clog drains, and create habitats for
mosquitoes. Open burning of waste (or incineration without proper controls)
emits a number of toxic substances, which directly harm people. The illegal
export of toxic waste exposes the populations that receive it to harm. But even
advanced waste management technologies carry health risks. Living and
working near landfills has been associated with congenital birth defects,
proximity to incinerators is linked with cancer incidence, and breathing air near
composting facilities is correlated to respiratory illness. From a health
perspective, phasing out open dumping and open burning of wastes are
priorities.
Waste management and disposal are a form of land-use change, altering the
habitat of the species with which humans share the planet. But the emission of
toxic chemicals is a more acute impact, harming flora and fauna. The most
hazardous of these wastes—hospital, electronic, and industrial hazardous
wastes—can be released directly to the environment if dumped or burned openly.
3.1.1. “Every building generates waste” – a statement to ponder upon…

• Municipal waste includes household waste, commercial waste,

and demolition waste
• Hazardous waste includes industrial waste
• Biomedical waste includes clinical waste
• Special hazardous waste includes radioactive waste, explosive
waste, and electronic waste (e-waste)

Municipal solid waste (MSW)

Municipal solid waste is defined as waste collected by the municipality or

disposed of at the municipal waste disposal site and includes residential,
industrial, institutional, commercial, municipal, and construction and demolition
waste.

Improperly managed waste can affect the environment at different scales. Open
dumping of wastes contaminates nearby water bodies with organic and inorganic

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pollutants. It also threatens public health by attracting disease vectors and
exposing people living near the waste to the harmful products within.

Waste generated per day: 3500 tonnes per day

Hazardous waste

Hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable

of having a harmful effect on human health or the environment.They may cause
damage during inadequate storage, transportation, treatment, or disposal
operations. Improper hazardous-waste storage or disposal frequently
contaminates surface water and groundwater supplies as harmful water pollution
and can also be a source of dangerous land pollution. People living in homes
built near old and abandoned waste disposal sites may be in a particularly
vulnerable position.
Reactive wastes are chemically unstable and react violently with air or water.
They cause explosions or form toxic vapours. Ignitable wastes burn at relatively
low temperatures and may cause an immediate fire hazard. Corrosive wastes
include strong acidic or alkaline substances. They destroy solid material and
living tissue upon contact, by chemical reaction.

Waste generated per day: 6.9 lakh tonnes annually

Biomedical waste or hospital waste

It is any kind of waste containing infectious materials. It may also include waste
associated with the generation of biomedical waste that visually appears to be of
medical or laboratory origin, as well research laboratory waste containing
biomolecules or organisms that are mainly restricted from environmental
release.Pollution through wastewater is a danger, as is the release of dangerous
emissions during incineration.Groundwater contamination and polluted streams
and river ways causes unique dangers and damage to aquatic life, wildlife, and
agricultural irrigation systems.

Improper disposal of biomedical waste that ends up in landfills has the potential
to transfer to stray animals, rodents, and birds that can then spread parasites
and bacterial infections through animal populations.Air pollutants generated by
on-site or off-site incineration where emission standards are not maintained has
the potential to contaminate and spread potentially dangerous airborne particles
that affect not only those diagnosed with lung or breathing issues, but all life.

If not properly contained and monitored, diagnostic technologies releasing

radioactive particles into the air have the potential to travel long distances to

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other areas, disseminating air pollutants over large expanses of inhabited and
uninhabited land that can cause illness and disease.

Waste generated per day: 15 tonnes per day

Radioactive (or nuclear) waste

It is a by-product from nuclear reactors, fuel processing plants, hospitals and

research facilities. Radioactive waste is also generated while decommissioning
and dismantling nuclear reactors and other nuclear facilities.One of the biggest
concerns that the world has with the disposal of nuclear waste is the affect the
hazardous materials could have on animals and plant life. Although most of the
time the waste is well sealed inside huge drums of steel and concrete, sometimes
accidents can happen and leaks can occur.

Nuclear waste can have drastically bad effects on life, causing cancerous
growths, for instance, or causing genetic problems for many generations of
animal and plants. Not disposing of nuclear waste properly can therefore have
huge environmental impacts that can harm many millions of animals and
hundreds of animal species.
Waste generated per day: 7.9 lakh tonnes annually

Biodegradable wastes pollute the environment only when they are in excess in
the environment. Biodegradable substances affect the environment in the
following ways:
• Biodegradable substances such as tree leaves, plant parts, and kitchen
wastes can be used as humus after composting. This will enhance soil
fertility.
• Heaps of such wastes are the breeding grounds for carriers and vectors
like mosquitoes and rats which spread so many communicable diseases.
• The biodegradable substances mainly contain carbon. These substances
after decomposition release that carbon back into the atmosphere.

3.1.2.How improper waste disposal affects the environment?

Waste disposal is one of the most important industries in the world. Without
waste disposal, the massive production industries produce too much and quickly
destroy the environment. This is apparent when you consider how improper
waste disposal affects the environment. If you want a better understanding of
why waste disposal is so important, here’s a brief look at the effects of improper
waste disposal.

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Land pollution happens whenever waste ends up on soil or other land that
people should process instead. This garbage doesn’t just sit there; the contents
break down, whether by rotting or time and seep into the area around it. This
means the dirt and all surrounding areas absorb the pollution and become
dangerous for people and animals.

Water pollution Whatever waste doesn’t go into landfills or other disposal

areas usually finds its way into the ocean or other bodies of water. It then breaks
down into the ocean, slowly contaminating the water and choking out the life that
water hosts. This process raises the toxicity of the water, making freshwater
unsafe for human consumption and any body of water toxic for those swimming
in the water. Since water travels and is a great solvent, the pollutants don’t easily
leave the area and can contaminate other water sources.

Air pollution is a major issue worldwide, and understanding how improper

waste disposal affects the environment through air pollution is necessary. A basic
understanding of air pollution states that greenhouse gases build up in the
atmosphere and cause massive global climate change. Improper waste disposal
is a contributor to excess gases entering the atmosphere and causing these
problems. The breakdown of the waste releases gases like methane, which is a
major factor in global climate change.

Climate Change A huge issue that comes from all forms of pollution is the
contribution and impact it has on the global climate. Waste contributes to the
gases that thicken the ozone layer. This, in turn, worsens the weather and melts
the ice caps, raising the sea level and negatively impacting natural habitats and
the homes of billions of people.Climate change has also caused a gradual
increase in the frequency of extreme weather and natural disasters. Due to the
change in climate, there has been a noticeable increase in disasters like
tornadoes and floods. Even the presence of hurricanes has become more
prevalent because of climate change

Disease Unprocessed waste is a huge breeding ground for major diseases. All
kinds of diseases can use places like landfills; even contaminated waters can
host all manners of horrible diseases. These diseases can affect animals, plants,
and people alike—improperly processed waste is horrible for the health of all
living things.

Loss of Habitats Every animal has a range of environments it can survive in.
This is why you only see specific species in certain locations. However, waste
contributes to global climate change, which changes the size of the habitats
animals need to survive. A decreasing habitat size drives species like polar bears
to extinction as they attempt migrations out of the areas.

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Lower Biodiversity The extinction of species and deaths of crops means the
biodiversity across the world is slowly lowering. This is bad for the health of
nature, as lower biodiversity increases the chances of complete extinction during
a disaster. With fewer different species, diseases have an easier time traveling,
and leaving fewer species that can survive environmental changes.

“Dead” Zones We often don’t consider places like landfills as “dead” space,
but they’re exactly that. The more trash and waste flows into these fills, the bigger
they grow and the more numerous they become. These create places where
nothing else can exist, as the space is useful only for waste and garbage, thus
creating an area that serves no other purpose.

Human Impact Between all the diseases and climate change that improperly
processed waste creates, it’s easy to see how this impacts every person. The
worsening of the environment stems partially from the mistreatment of waste,
and ending any practices that contribute to extra waste can help save many lives
and keep the world’s environment in a healthy place.

For many people, the reduction of waste and commitment to handling waste
properly is a daunting task. Some even feel that it’s too late and there’s no point.
However, every change people make by properly disposing of waste can save
lives and suffering in the future, even if it’s only a few people. Additionally, it
increases the chance of something major changing and fixing the issue overall.
So always be sure you’re assisting in the proper management of waste and not
speeding the environment towards a dangerous end.

3.1.3.Why is waste management a challenge?

Status of chennai’s dumpyard

Urbanization, increase in population and consumption pattern, the problem of
solid waste management in Chennai has been rapidly increasing. 3200 metric
tonnes of solid waste every day.

1.Lush greenery “wet land”to “dump capital” of chennai

The destruction started when the Chennai Corporation constructed a sewage

treatment plant in the wetland and later, handed it over to the Metro Water
department,” says Jayaraman.

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Kodungaiyur dumpyard up in flames

“I have lost count on how many times this dumpyard had caught fire in last three
decades. I have lost hope. I have put up with this for 45 years. At least the next
generation must be saved from this toxic pollution,” said Ramachandra Rao and
he added that, “Real estate, metro rail, and other amenities have eluded
Kodungaiyur area because of the dumpyard. Those who can, have vacated.
Underprivileged still live here,”

The fire spread to 6 acres of the 258-acre dumpyard, which gets 2,600 metric
tonnes of waste every day. For the long-time residents, the fire and the promises
to remove the dumpyard have been an annual fair.

The fire took place in the area where fresh waste is dumped. Thousands of
residents living around the dumpyard were affected as toxic fumes emanated.

Legacy waste a source of pollution: The biggest issue is that the dumpyard
continues to get unsegregated waste.

Suhashini Mahalingam, who lives in Kodungaiyur, said residents of localities

around the dumpyard complain of eye pain every time garbage is burnt.

So many of us have breathing problems. Rainwater landing on the waste flows

over and through the waste, thus the soluble substances and liquids that are
acidic dissolve making the final leachate harmful. “The problem with legacy
waste is that it makes the soil and water completely unusable.”

People’s opinion

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PERSON 1 : There was a major fire outbreak, and it took an entire day to control
the fire and smoke. Residents urge the government to shift the dumpyard from
Kodungaiyur but our pleas have been ignored for more than a decade.

Discussion

Kodungaiyur dumpyard being a major dumpyard of chennai has affected

people and the environment in large number of ways. After so long the
government has taken action on shifting the dumpyard and to start biomining
of the dumpyard.

2. Perungudi residents put up with a toxic environment

In 1970, the corporation allotted seven hectares of land in Seevaram village in

Perungudi for dumping waste, and it was bypassed in 1980 when the nearby
marshland was occupied. The garbage dumping area increased to 56 hectares
in 2002 and 136 hectares by 2007. The National Productivity Council reported
that 70 lakh tonnes of solid waste were dumped at the site till 2005.
The smoke has the potential to affect the native flora and fauna and the health
of the urban residents.

To reduce the amount of garbage in the dump, Chennai Corporation

periodically sets fire to it. The massive landfill in Perungudi, a locality in South
Chennai, caught fire on April 27. The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC)

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struggled to bring it under control. Concentrated toxic fumes spread over a
radius of 6 km above the burning debris. The Velachery neighbourhood near
Perungudi and the Pallikaranai marshland were the most affected.

Environmentalist activist Nityanand Jayaraman said,

children below the age of five, persons with cardio-respiratory conditions,
asthmatic patients, people with weak immunity, etc., can be particularly
affected by the smoke they are now being exposed to.”

“The cause of the fire is against the law. it reveals that biodegradable waste
is dumped into the landfill. according to gcc solid waste management
guidelines, biodegradable waste should not be dumped there. the
biodegradable waste remains in garbage dumps for weeks and months, and
when it breaks down, it releases heat, which raises the temperature. this
garbage cannot breathe because more garbage is dumped on top of it. it
creates methane pockets and burns spontaneously.”

The perungudi municipal landfill was brimming and overflowing with 3.63
million cubic metres of waste when it caught fire, and this is not the first
time.The water thrown on the fire increases the flammability of such garbage
and will not help extinguish the fire. this led to increased fire, smoke and air
pollution from the dump last week.

A harsh reminder why waste segregation at source is non negotiable: The

bacteria thrives in methane. It could affect the ecosystem as it can reduce the
oxygen supply, leading to death of flora and fauna in the water. Environmentalists
say the pink colour could be from an algal bloom in the lake caused by leachate
leak from the dump yard.

Breast milk becomes poison Household waste is minimal in the Perungudi

dumpyard. Dangerous diseases are spreading due to excessive dumping of
industrial and medical waste. Metal, copper and mercury levels are high in the
groundwater due to seepage.The drinking water in the wells in the locality is
severely degraded and found in several colours - yellow, green, black and red.
27 types of chemical waste are dumped here, and such waste exceeds
several times the limit set by the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP). Particularly, the amount of three cancerous chemicals is 34,000
times higher than the defined limit.
People’s opinion

PERSON 1 : I have worked near the dumpyard and I saw that my colleagues and
myself were affected by many diseases due to tbe dumpyard near palikarnai
marsh land. This place was mounds of solid waste throughout the stretch and
now it has seen light. Government has taken step to change the dumpyard and
clean it.

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Discussion

One people starts littering and a huge crowd of people follows them and it
changes into a dumpyard. If one persons stops there will be a change in the
future which can be a better place for us humans, animals and birds.

3.1.4.What is the solution?

Solid waste is not mere garbage. With intense urbanisation accompanied by

the ruling paradigm of globalisation and neoliberalism, cities have become the
symbol of wealth and the site of exploitation. At such a time, urban waste is a
major issue. That is why the concept of ‘waste management was conceived.
It should be kept in mind that when the Chennai Corporation was established,
it started to collect a waste tax from the people.

At present, what are the possibilities for handling waste?

1. Many laws and schemes are already in place. The first thing is to put
them to practice.
2. Solid waste management is one of the many departments of the GCC.
Particular attention should be given to it.
3. The landfills need to be relocated. Chennai receives more than 5,500
metric tons of solid waste/day, dumped in Perungudi and Kodungaiyur.

Solid waste dumping in landfills includes separating the liquids leaking from
the debris and storing them with facilities to purify them.
In the landfill method of solid waste disposal, there would be measures to
keep off insects and prevent foul smells from emanating and mixing with fresh
air.
Groundwater would be tested periodically, and systems would be in place to
prevent adulteration.

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Biomining, the solution with pitfalls
Biomining of the dump in Kodungaiyur in October, retrieving at least 100 acres
of polluted land for planting trees. Another 100 acres of land was expected to be
used for solid waste management, with focus on leachate treatment and waste
processing.

The 191acre Perungudi landfill, a nauseating pile of trash, may transform into a
dense forester an ecopark in five years, if the corporation’s biomining experiment
comes through. They are not visible from the road, but the dumpyard has
mountains of mud segregated from the landfill, a result of biomining. In simple
terms, we are roped in to remove the five meter high landfill and give back the
empty and flat land to the corporation.

Great threat to biodiversity of wetland

Pallikaranai marshlands, which drains water from a 250 square kilometre

catchment, was a 50 sq km water sprawl in the southern suburbs of Chennai.
Now, it is 4.3 sq km—less than a tenth of its original. The fragile wetland
ecosystem in pallikaranai may be at the risk of losing its native fish species – a
food source for migratory birds – as a study has found that non native or
introduced fish species may be more tolerant to pollutants in the water
body,including from the adjacent perungudi dumpyard.

Pallikaranai marsh acted as a natural flood sink when the rains overwhelmed
Chennai.shrunk in size to 300 hectares from the original 8000 hectares. Legacy
waste: 30.60 lakh cubic metres.The free flow of water within the entire marsh has
been totally disrupted due to mega construction activities and consequent road
laying.”This ecosystem is fragile, it is best we try to make remedies right now
rather than wait out a little longer.

The growing finger of a garbage dump sticks out like a cancerous tumour in the
northern part of the marshland. Two major roads cut through Pallikaranai
waterbody with a few pitifully small culverts that are not up to the job of
transferring the rain water flows from such a large catchment. The edges have
been eaten into by institutes like the National Institute of Ocean Technology
(NIOT). Ironically, NIOT is an accredited consultant to prepare environmental
impact assessments on various subjects, including on the implications of
constructing on water bodies.

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People’s opinion

PERSON 1 : A Paradise that's never praised!

People cross this Marshland/Lake everyday but mostly never take a moment to
cherish the beauty. This is the place to be to get a glimpse of all species of
migrating birds! This is the bird photographer paradise in Chennai.Not tourist
friendly at present, but hope the govt comes up with a park soon.

PERSON 2 : Pathetic state of humans dumping waste in marshlands where

migratory birds dwell while migration from the arctic regions.

PERSON 3 : Wetland has rich biodiversity. Due to encroachment high rise

buildings took over the place. By being a large wetland it has been shrunk.
People are dumping waste even in that small space of wetland. This is all
because of the thoughtlessness of people and the government. The future of
chennai is going to be bad than we think.

Discussion

Pallikaranai marshland is one of few natural lake with forests exists on city. Most
of area had been destroyed due to Chennai development and perungudi
dumpyard. Government should take steps and emphasize on how to bring back
the palikarnai marsh land by biomining the perungudi dumpyard and changing it
into a eco park soon.

City to finally be free of garbage dumps

Perungudi and Kodungaiyur dump yards are surrounded by residential and
institutional buildings and the amount of waste dumped is more than the
estimated amount. The ecosystem is affected due to the dump yard. Garbage
from Chennai will be disposed of in four places in Malaipattu, Minjur, Vallur
and Kuthambakkam villages where the corporation plans to set up waste
management system.

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People’s opinion

PERSON 1 : corporation of chennai is so corrupt that they even fail to see a

scheme called: electicity from garbage…..this is followed in swiss….These
politicians only took at swiss banks not goverances!

PERSON 2:This is much awaited by the residents of perungudi and thousands

of families will rejoice this.Most of them have spent a fortune to acquire a nice
place for living and ended up being disappointed with smoke and bad smell
alternating during summer and winter.Hope this happens…..

Discussion

Biomining should be done frequently in the 4 upcoming villages to stop

environmental issues. When it's not done in regular intervals the dumpyards will
keep on be shifting places.

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3.1.4.1.Waste: a problem or a resource?
Waste is not only an environmental problem, but also an economic loss. An
increasing share of this is recycled or composted, and less is sent to landfill. How
can we change the way we produce and consume so as to produce less
and less waste, while using all waste as a resource?

The amount of waste we generate is closely linked to our consumption and

production patterns. The sheer number of products entering the market poses
yet another challenge. Demographic changes, like an increase in the number of
one-person households, also affect the amount of waste we generate (e.g.
packaging goods in smaller units) .The large spectrum of waste types and
complex waste-treatment paths (including illegal ones) makes it difficult to get a
complete overview of the waste generated and its whereabouts. There are data,
albeit of varying quality, for all types of waste.

Air pollution, climate change, soil and water contamination…

Poor waste management contributes to climate change and air pollution, and
directly affects many ecosystems and species.Landfills, considered the last
resort in the waste hierarchy, release methane, a very powerful greenhouse gas
linked to climate change. Methane is formed by microorganisms present in
landfills from biodegradable waste, such as food, paper and garden waste.
Depending on the way they are built, landfills might also contaminate soil and
water.

After waste is collected, it is transported and treated. The transport process

releases carbon dioxide — the most prevalent greenhouse gas — and air
pollutants, including particulate matter, into the atmosphere.Part of the waste
might be incinerated or recycled. Energy from waste can be used to produce
heat or electricity, which might then replace the energy produced using coal or
other fuels. Energy recovery of waste can thus help reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.

Recycling can help even more to lower greenhouse gas emissions and other
emissions. When recycled materials replace new materials, fewer new materials
need to be extracted or produced in the first place.

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Waste affects ecosystems and our health

Waste impacts the environment indirectly as well. Whatever is not recycled or

recovered from waste represents a loss of raw material and other inputs used in
the chain, i.e. in the production, transport and consumption phases of the
product. Environmental impacts in the life-cycle chain are significantly larger than
those in the waste management phases alone.

Directly or indirectly, waste affects our health and well-being in many ways:
methane gases contribute to climate change, air pollutants are released into the
atmosphere, freshwater sources are contaminated, crops are grown in
contaminated soil and fish ingest toxic chemicals, subsequently ending up on our
dinner plates…Illegal activities such as illegal dumping, burning or exports also
play a part, but it is difficult to estimate the full extent of such activities, or of their
impacts.

Economic loss and management costs

Waste also represents an economic loss and burden to our society. Labour and
the other inputs (land, energy, etc.) used in its extraction, production,
dissemination and consumption phases are also lost when the ‘leftovers’ are
discarded. Moreover, waste management costs money. Creating an
infrastructure for collecting, sorting and recycling is costly, but once in place,
recycling can generate revenues and create jobs.

Waste as a resource

What if we could use waste as a resource and thereby scale down the demand
for extraction of new resources? Extracting fewer materials and using existing
resources would help avert some of the impacts created along the chain.

It is possible to achieve these things. In many countries, kitchen and gardening

waste constitutes the biggest fraction of municipal solid waste. This type of
waste, when collected separately, can be turned into an energy source or
fertiliser. Anaerobic digestion is a waste treatment method that involves
submitting bio-waste to a biological decomposition process similar to the one in
landfills, but under controlled conditions. Anaerobic digestion produces biogas
and residual material, which in turn can be used as fertiliser, like compost

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.

3.1.4.2.Recycling: a viable solution?

The nuances of managing waste cannot be understood without the business of

recycling. Is the business of recycling dry waste such as plastics even viable?
An organisation Paperman experimented on an app-based model of picking up
plastics from the door steps of citizens and selling it to recyclers. “Around 5000
households registered with us in the four years that we worked in the city, and
gave us their dry waste. However, it is impossible to sustain the business
because plastic is a low-value material and there are no subsidies for such
initiatives,” said Mathew Jose, Founder and CEO, Paperman.

20
Is recycling dry waste a complex process? “Separating the many categories of
plastics, the fundamental rule for recycling, is a Herculean task. Recycling as a
large-scale activity doesn’t happen in developed countries. Availability of
cheap manpower is the only reason why recycling is taking place in India,”
said Mathew. The complexity of the procedure only underlines the need to cut
down the usage of dry waste and focus on eco-friendly packaging options.

Cutting down on the the quantum generated, rather than just managing waste,
can hold the key to a real, sustainable solution in the long term. “Decentralising
waste by building capacity in ward and zonal levels is also a solution. There
can be different approaches in one city,” said Sumana Narayanan, Senior
Researcher, Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group (CAG).

Tamil Nadu government has been emphasising on source segregation for about
a decade now. GCC has also come a long way by setting up infrastructure
projects for waste management. However, unless the offenders of waste
management are penalised, just like non-helmet users are, it will be difficult to
achieve desired, long term results. Also, holding meetings with waste
management influencers for feedback will help Chennai Corporation get back on
track as far as managing waste in the city is concerned.

3.2.INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE

Is industrial agriculture really making the world a better place?

Industrialized agriculture is highly concentrated and mechanized, relying on

chemical inputs like fertilizers, pesticides and non-therapeutic antibiotics.
In general, industrial agriculture beats organic farming in yields, according to a
comprehensive new study in Nature. The study adds new data to the sometimes-
heated debate of organic versus conventional farming. Proponents of organic
farming argue that these practices are environmentally friendly, sustainable over
the long-term, and provide a number of social goods.
Conventional and organic farming methods have different consequences on the
environment and people. Conventional agriculture causes increased greenhouse
gas emissions, soil erosion, water pollution, and threatens human health.
Organic farming has a smaller carbon footprint, conserves and builds soil health,
replenishes natural ecosystems for cleaner water and air, all without toxic
pesticide residues.
“Organic agriculture often excels at being more sustainable than many of the
conventional techniques used today. ‘Organic farmers farm, while industrial
farmers mine.’ It’s hard to ignore the environmental and sustainability problems

21
with conventional agriculture, whether they are linked to chemical inputs,
fertilizers use, water pollution, or water consumption,” Foley says.
For the last 50 odd years farmers have depended on synthetic pesticides and
fertilizers to maximize the crop output. While on the one hand these harmful
chemicals and fertilizers makes the produce toxic, it also causes significant
damage to the soil, environment and the overall eco system. It is here, organic
farming has time and again demonstrated its effect on people’s health, wellness
and the environment in sustainable way.
Organic farming in principle discourages the usage of harmful chemicals and
pesticides which in turn contributes towards the preservation of the natural
environment. Research and studies have indicated that organic farming can
eliminate about 500 million pounds of chemicals and pesticides from entering the
environment. The lack of pesticides and chemicals enhances biodiversity
resulting in better quality of soil and reduced pollution from pesticides and
fertilizers. Organic agriculture takes into account medium and long-term effect
of agricultural interventions on the eco system. Organic agriculture takes a
proactive approach as opposed to treating problems after they emerge.

3.2.1.How does industrial agriculture affect the environment?

Deforestation

Industrial agriculture requires vast tracts of land for the cultivation of crops
whether to feed livestock or to feed people. This need has caused the
deforestation of key ecological areas, including the Amazon rainforest. Between
August 2019 and July 2020, 4,281 sq miles of the rainforest was destroyed.

Monoculture

Monoculture is the planting of a single crop on large tracts of land. This practice
reduces the habitat available for wildlife and insects which attempt to adapt to
the new environment and interact more frequently with the crops. This interaction
causes farmers to use more pesticides in order to protect their economic
interests. The increase in pesticide use causes contamination of water, soil, and
air and has lasting negative effects on the environment and the animals that live
in it.

Water Pollution
In addition to fertilizer and pesticides polluting the water supply, CAFOs produce
vast amounts of manure. This manure enters the water and can cause algal
blooms which are detrimental to marine life. Experts hypothesize that the release
of 215 million tons of wastewater from a fertilizer production plant into Tampa

22
Bay in early 2021 created the ideal conditions for the red algal blooms that are
currently impacting the coasts of Florida. The blooms have killed dozens of fish.

Air Pollution
The animals being housed by CAFOs produce massive effects of methane,
nitrous oxide, and ammonia which accelerate climate change and can cause
health problems in people.

Depletion
Industrial agriculture demands a large portion of the earth’s natural resources.
Food production accounts for 70 percent of freshwater use. This translates into
water being used from underground aquifers at a rate much faster than the
aquifers are replenished.

Irrigation
Irrigation runs the potential of causing increased erosion, expedited water
pollution, and deteriorated water quality. These outcomes can prove detrimental
to wild populations of animals and plants in surrounding areas.

Erosion
Industrial agriculture exposes nutrient-rich topsoil increasing the speed of
erosion. The eroded land loses nutrients and runs the risk of becoming a desert.
The eroded soil moves into waterways causing clogs and driving pollution.

Lost Biodiversity
In addition to driving deforestation and the destruction of habitats, industrial
farming also destroys the rich communities of invertebrates and insects that work
to recycle plants and maintain soil fertility. Destroying these communities drives
the need for fertilizers to replace the natural enrichment process of the soil.

Climate Change
In addition to the tons of greenhouse gases emitted by CAFOs every year,
industrial agriculture utilizes vast amounts of fossil-fuel-powered energy to drive
production. Another driver of climate change is the heavy application of fertilizers
and pesticides that is standard practice on industrial farms.

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3.2.2.What Are the Alternatives to Industrial Agriculture?
The primary alternative to industrial agriculture is sustainable agriculture. There
are a variety of different sustainable methods that can help to reduce the
negative impacts of food production.

• Organic. Organic farming places restrictions on the pesticides,

fertilizers, and antibiotics that can be used.

• Regenerative. Regenerative agriculture has the express purpose of

producing food in ways that reverse the damage caused by industrial
methods.

• Permaculture. Permaculture focuses on creating a system in which all

parts-humans, animals, plants, and the environment work together in a
mutually beneficial manner.

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3.3.INDUSTRIES AND POLLUTION
Industrial pollution is characterized as pollution that originates directly from
industry. This form of pollution is one of the most common sources of pollution
around the world. Industrial operations are a significant cause of pollutants in the
air, water, and soil, resulting in sickness and death all over the world.
3.3.1.Do industries encroach on land?
Due to rapid urbanization and globalization, there is a need for more number of
industries but the land available is limited, which has left the upcoming industries
with lack of space. This leads the industries to encroach wetlands and
marshlands.

25
Central PSU NTECL Vallur encroached on 203 acres to construct a new coal
ash dump and blocked important canals like the Kuruvimedu Kalvai, while BPCL
blocked the Maan Kalvai when it encroached on 100 acres of salt pans within
the backwaters to set up its oil storage terminal.
In 2017, NTECL Vallur began expanding its coal ash pond within Kosasthalai
River’s backwaters without legal sanction. Several tens of acres of mangroves
and salt pans were destroyed before citizen action forced the work to a halt.
Subsequently, the NGT ordered an inspection by the regional office of Ministry
of Environment, Forests and Climate change which confirmed that the damage
was illegal. Seven canals once drained Kuruvimedu and the lands to the west of
it. Canals like the Sethu Kalvai (canal), Manal Kalvai, Vazhukutharai Kalvai and
Vichoor Kalvai have been buried by NTECL’s ash pond. Important drains like the
Kuruvimedu Canal, once a navigable canal and an important channel to drain
the populated western lands, have been completely blocked since 2015.

26
Central and state government Public Sector Units (PSUs) have encroached upon
656 acres of the Kosasthalai River’s backwaters in Ennore since the disastrous
floods of 2015, according to a report by Save Ennore Creek Campaign.
Released on the eve of Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Chennai, the report
highlighted the fact that central government PSUs, including Kamarajar Port,
NTECL Vallur and Bharat Petroleum had converted 417 acres into industrial real
estate since 2015. Shah’s program in the city includes the inauguration of a new
berth in Kamarajar Port. TIDCO’s poly park – a plastics industrial estate –
encroached into the remaining 239 acres of tidal wetlands.
In 2016, Kamaraj Port Limited (KPL) attempted to “reclaim” an additional 7.2
acres of backwaters with patches of mangrove (formerly salt pans) in three plots.
Fisher protests and legal action forced KPL to partially remove the debris. This
area too has not been allowed to heal. Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation
(TANTRANSCO) has laid roads and dumped construction debris to raise the
level of the waterbody to erect transmission towers. Tamil Nadu Road
Development Corporation has expanded the existing port access road by laying
a concrete truck lane inside the wetland.

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28
3.3.2.Do industries take up resources at an unsustainable rate?
Nonrenewable resources are finite and are therefore unsustainable. We are
currently depleting nonrenewable resources (coal, oil, and natural gas) at an
alarming rate. As of 2015, at this rate, we will run out of coal by 2130, natural gas
by 2069, and oil by 2067.
The way we use resources provokes often irreversible ecological change.
Extraction and processing of non-regenerative raw materials are often energy
intensive activities involving large scale interventions in ecosystems and the
water balance and result in air, soil and water pollution. Even the extraction and
production of renewable resources often involve extensive use of energy,
materials, chemicals and in some cases water; and all this translates into
pollution. Greenfield land is often transformed to create arable land and in some
cases whole ecosystems are destroyed in the process.
And even at the end stage of the supply chain, environmental harm is
unavoidable. For example, recycling requires energy, using waste for energy
generates greenhouse gases and other pollutants, and Greenfield land is
permanently occupied by waste dumps.
Thus resource use already somewhat exceeds the earth’s regenerative
capacities by virtue of the fact that non-renewable natural resources are finite
and their quality is often mediocre. The increasing pressure on natural resources
resulting from steady worldwide population growth may incite competition from
other potential uses.

3.3.3.What impacts does industry have on environment?

It leads to the depletion of natural resources. It leads to air pollution, water
pollution and soil pollution. Global warming, climatic changes are the major
consequences of industrialization. It causes acid rain. It leads to the degradation
of land quality. It leads to the generation of hazardous waste whose safe disposal
become a big problem. These industries are responsible for the following
adverse diseases and ill effect like silicosis and pneumoconiosis, tuberculosis,
skin diseases and deafness. Metallic contaminant like Cd, Zn, Hg etc., destroy
bacteria and beneficial microorganisms in the soil. Industrial wastes including
toxins enter in the food chain causes number of undesirable effects to living
beings and animals. Industrial effluent damages the natural biological purification
mechanism of sewage treatment causing several soil and water borne diseases.
Radioactive industrial pollutant cause undesirable disease when food containing
radio-nuclides is taken by man.

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Effects on land
Industrial wastes being thrown into
landfills. These chemicals and toxic
materials can destroy the fertility of the
soil, decrease the productivity of crops
and even lead to the contamination of
foods that we may eventually consume.

Effects on water
Factories are also a major contributing
factor to water pollution across the
globe. The illegal dumping of
contaminated water, gases, chemicals,
heavy metals or radioactive materials
into major waterways causes damage
to marine life and the environment as a
whole.Not all factories will be
responsible for this, but those found in
less regulated parts of the planet will
dump their toxic wastes into oceans or rivers to be rid of it a lot cheaper.This can
cause eutrophication, and heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, Hg and Ni, which also
have detrimental impacts on the environment and human health.

Effects on air
Rapid industrialization is becoming
serious concern for fresh air and healthy
life. Abundant discharge of industrial toxin
making natural environment harmful,
unstable, and uncomfortable for physical
and also for biological environment and it
leads to pollution by energy sources and
chemical substances. Physical and
biological environment are damage by
the heat and pollutants in the air. These
pollutants including vapors, aerosols,
solid particles, toxic gases and smoke drive from industrial processes.

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ENNORE

BEFORE ENCROACHMENT AFTER ENCROACHMENT

The lands of Seppakkam once had rice fields, salt pans, fresh air, mangroves
and clean rivers with fish aplenty. They are now blanketed in a thick layer of fly
ash. The groundwater is salty and laden with heavy metals. Acres upon acres of
ash ponds have gobbled up the salt pans and crops.
Despite multiple orders by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to contain the
pollution, the power plant, continues to discharge fly ash, encroach on
ecologically sensitive lands and emit toxic fumes with impunity.
Powered by coal, the plant generates waste products like fly ash, sulphur dioxide
and nitrogen oxides.
The fly ash is disposed of as a slurry. It is mixed with sea water and transported
through a network of pipes to an ash pond barely 50 m from Seppakkam.
While the power plant has received multiple awards for “high productivity and
input reduction,” government agencies have overlooked its detrimental social
and economic impact.

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Water issues
It had found severe contamination in water samples taken from the village bore-
wells, including heavy metals like cadmium, mercury and chromium, etc. – all
potential carcinogens. the ash pond lacked an impervious lining. The NCTPS
was and is required to have this lining as part of the environmental clearance for
its second stage of operations. The lining is in the form of a plastic sheet placed
beneath the ash pond, to prevent the slurry from percolating into the ground. It
is absent even today, four years after the NCTPS was told to install it. Without it,
the salt water and heavy metals in the slurry seep into the ground.
The fly ash pond is bound by dykes that rise 6 m above its surrounding land. The
dykes keep rain water from the hinterland draining into the creek. Similar dykes
near the Ennore and Vallur thermal power stations create a contiguous dam-like
structure that leaves the area permanently waterlogged.

The fly ash

According to the fly ash utilization rules, power plants need to use up 100% of
the fly ash they generate within a 300 km radius.
According to the NCTPS records, there should be 6.11-8.11 million m3 of fly ash
in the pond. However, a field survey revealed a volume of 18.12 million m3. The
difference indicated that the NCTPS could be under reporting the quantity of fly
ash it had dumped or utilised in construction activities. Yet another such task is
to replace rusted pipes. According to Ela Muthu, a resident of Seppakkam, “The
pipes were laid in the 1990s.”
“If an official comes to visit the area, the NCTPS people switch off the pipes so
that the leaks are not visible, or they hammer in branches of trees or cover the
pipes with polythene sheets to temporarily plug the leaks,” he adds.
The expert committee said that during its field visit, it spotted no major leaks. But
now, at least five are visible. Senthil Kumar, an assistant executive engineer at
the NCTPS and who is responsible for maintaining the pipes, refused to
comment for this article.
The committee also noted that the NCTPS didn’t have a response protocol in the
event of a dyke breach or major pipe burst.
The fly ash issue doesn’t stop with the leaky pipes or dykes. The Ismail
committee had said the NCTPS ought to splash water on the ash pond to prevent
dry ash from being lifted into the air – yet another recommendation that remains
on paper. The committee was also displeased with the way the ash was being
transported.

32
The slurry is scooped up using excavators, loaded onto lorries and driven to
utilisation points. The excavator operator determines the depth and quantity of
fly ash removed and the lorries lack any kind of proper covering. As a result, dry
ash flies into the air, where air currents move it to human settlements, where the
ash triggers respiratory issues, skin problems and a fatal disease called silicosis
(often misdiagnosed as tuberculosis) among villagers and the NCTPS workers
alike.
Nurses at the primary health centre in Ennore confirmed that there are more than
50 patients currently diagnosed with tuberculosis and that, on an average, there
are two to three positive cases every month.

Peoples woes
According to T. Latha, a resident of Seppakkam, “Almost everyone has sinus
problems. Children are taken to the hospital often and elders suffer from
wheezing, cold, sneezing and skin problems.” She cleans her house every day,
she says, and even then it is dusty with fly ash. “When we wash and keep our
utensils in the sun or put the clothes up for drying, the ash settles on them.”
Selvan, another fisherman, says after the NCTPS was built, the fish catch
dwindled. “Earlier, there were thousands of fish but not enough fishers to catch
them. Now, there are thousands of fishers and no fish.”
The Ismail committee had analysed some fish from the creek and found that their
bodies had levels of cadmium and lead far exceeding the maximum permitted by
EU regulations (as did plants grown in the area). Apart from compromising the
fish’s olfactory abilities and their ability to prey, these metals have been
associated with kidney damage in humans.

OPINION:
The raw materials used by industries are mostly non-renewable and their
depletion will cause a greater loss for the environment. the need of the hour is to
either use renewable sources of energy or limit the use of the non-renewable
resources in a more sustainable manner. And the land resources are also limited
and due to this rural areas, forests, wetlands, flood plains are being encroached
that degrade the quality and fertility of the land. Proper disposal of the effluents
or any discharge is necessary in order to protect the ecosystem. The incident in
Ennore affects the biodiversity- decline of mangroves and saline marsh species
that makes the region vulnerable to coastal calamities; water quality- presence
of high quantities of toxic chemicals in back waters; marine life and vegetation-
decline of fish species and human health; encroachment leads to flooding, story
surges and sea water intrusion.

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3.3.4.No one told us we will lose our land’: Parandur residents
protest Chennai airport plan

Farming is the main occupation in and around Parandur, known for its abundant
water resources, and the residents feel that the new airport could rob them of
their livelihood “Thousands of people like me can’t imagine living away from
Ekanapuram.

Where do we go?

What will we do,”

asks N. Balaraman, a 57-year-old farmer of the village.

While many in Chennai are excited about the upcoming airport, residents of
Parandur and its neighbouring villages such as Ekanapuram, Meleri, Nagapattu,
Nelvai and Thandalam are spending anxious days as their future looks uncertain.

Why Parandur?

According to Stalin's statement on August 2, Chennai’s Meenambakkam airport

handles 2.2 crore passengers every year. After its expansion plans are realised
over the next seven years, the airport will be able to handle up to 3.5 crore
passengers. “The proposed airport in Parandur, meanwhile, will be able to
handle 10 crore passengers annually. It will have two runways, terminal
buildings, taxiways, aprons, cargo terminals, and other infrastructure, all at an
estimated budget of Rs 20,000 crore,” the statement reads. It adds that they have
also considered the rising number of passengers and demand for cargo services
in the Meenambakkam airport, besides fulfilling the state's need for domestic and
international flight services, based on which the TIDCO (Tamil Nadu Industrial
Development Corporation) was assigned the task to zero in on a quality spot.
That was how Parandur was chosen.

Environmental impact

Besides, it is not just the local residents who have raised their concerns regarding
the proposed second airport. Several environmentalists too have made clear
their objections, pointing out that the project would significantly impact the area’s
water resources, since the proposed site has many lakes and wetlands.

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Chennai-based naturalist and activist Yuvan Aves highlights several concerns in
this regard. “The first question is how much more fossil fuel will be consumed if
this second airport is materialised, because these flight services and the climate
crisis are deeply interconnected. Secondly, do we even need a second airport?
It is only occasionally that there is an increase in the passenger numbers beyond
the current capacity. The third matter is the ecological importance of wetlands,
which comprises up to 90% of the proposed site. Revenue classifications
mention these places as Meikkal Poramboke (grazing lands), lakes and
agriculture land, but all of these are wetlands only,” he says.

Yuvan adds that the livelihoods of farmers and cattle rearers, as well as the lives
of migratory birds should also be taken into consideration while launching
development projects. These birds can cause flight collisions, which raises
concerns about flight safety as well, he says.

Captain A (Mohan) Ranganathan, former airline instructor pilot and aviation

safety adviser, points out that the choice of site for airport construction could also
eventually lead to a rise in flooding. “Currently, the lakes and wetlands here help
prevent floods during the northeast monsoon. But if the entire area gets
cemented with concrete, what do you think will happen? If there is no way for the
streams and lakes to reach the rivers and drain the excess water, all of the
surrounding areas will be flooded,” he says.

“Besides, since the proposed site has many lakes and wetlands, the soil could
be clayish. To make the foundation of the airport strong enough, extra amounts
of money will have to be spent,” he adds.

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Chennai lost two-thirds of agricultural land in 11 years due to
rapid urbanisation, says research

Chennai: Agricultural land loss is a growing concern for environmentalists as rapid

urbanisation with roads and highways are occupying farmland. According to a
report, researchers from Anna University have found that the Greater Chennai
region has lost two-thirds of agricultural land in 11 years. Since 2005 areas like
Ambattur, Annanur, Iyyappanthangal, Manappakkam, Madipakkam,
Injambakkam, and Sholinganallur have newly built-up constructions as urban
areas continue to grow.

A professor from the Anna University's Geology department said that, “The
conversion pattern shows agricultural land is the main contributor to the increase
in a built-up area with 7.66%, followed by water bodies 2.84 per cent and wetland
0.98 per cent," as quoted by the Times of India. Researchers have also claimed
that a rapid increase in the built-up area has also resulted in an increase in land
surface temperature.

Worries over farmland depletion yet to be addressed as unregulated

development leads to major changes in the land use land cover (LULC). The
researchers estimate that Agricultural land shrunk from 52.14 sq km in 2005 to
18.28 sq km in 2016. The average farm size has been reduced as While water
bodies shrunk by 12.54 sq km, around 1/3rd of the area in 2005, wetlands shrunk
from 14.37 sq km to 10.05 sq km. Jayshree Vencatesan, managing trustee of
biodiversity organisation from Care Earth Trust said that, “We will be surrounded
by only concrete structures. We have been recommending green and blue buffers
for every residential area."

36
37
3.4.What is mining?
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from
the Earth, usually from an ore body, lode, vein, seam, reef, or placer deposit.
The exploitation of these deposits for raw material is based on
the economic viability of investing in the equipment, labor, and energy required
to extract, refine and transport the materials found at the mine to manufacturers
who can use the material.
Ores recovered by mining include metals, coal, oil
shale, gemstones, limestone, chalk, dimension stone, rock salt, potash, gravel,
and clay. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown
through agricultural processes, or feasibly created artificially in
a laboratory or factory.

Various Causes of Mining

1. Advancement in technology

With the current advancement in technology and technological products such as

cell phones, computers, and machinery among others, it is impossible to do away
with mining. The demands of minerals from technological companies are
increasing and consequently the need for mining activities to meet these
demands.

For example, data from the US Mineral Information Institute indicate that in a
single year, there are approximately 130 million cell phones decommissioned by
their owners. These cell phones contain an estimated 46 metric tons of silver,
2100 metric tons of copper, 2 metric tons of palladium, 46 metric tons of silver,
and 0.04 metric tons platinum.

The data shows that the amount of minerals required is still high each year. To
indicate how massive the industry is, studies conducted by World Economy
Forum prove that the industries which have ventured into mining and metal
influence a one trillion economy.

2. Urbanization and increased population growth

The world’s population is ever growing. This increase coupled with

modernization and income growth leads to more demands for residential and
working building spaces, transportation vehicles, and consumer products. As a
result, the need for more mined products increases.

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3. Few substitutes for minerals

Suggestions mainly indicate that the mining activities can only decrease if there
are substitutes for the mined products. But since substitutes are highly lacking,
it will remain an uphill task to reduce mining activities. Recently, some companies
are replacing metal with carbon fiber and gas for other fuel sources.Despite the
truth and the practicability in this substitution, studies by Yale University show
that there is no such thing as a perfect replacement of all uses of a single item.

4. Mining is an economic foundation in some countries

Most developing countries depend on mining for their economic growth. The
International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) report that approximately 70
countries heavily rely on the mining industry. Further studies indicate that mining
activities constitute 60 to 90 percent of the total foreign direct investment for most
countries in the category of low-middle income.

5. With modernity and technological breakthroughs, the industry is

becoming more and more sustainable

Top mining industries are making breakthroughs in technology and investing

heavily in it as well. An example is a current use of sensing technologies and
Internet of Things, autonomous systems, use of drones, simulations, and
adaptive supply chains. This silent reconnaissance in technological
advancement is attracting new professionals and is also meeting the demands
of the local society in terms of providing a sustainable operation.

Effects of Mining on the Environment

1. Water pollution

If proper precautions are not taken, mining can have adverse effects on both the
surface and groundwater. Due to the high amount of chemicals that mining
activities generate; unnaturally high concentrations of arsenic, mercury, and
sulfuric acid will be deposited in the water bodies.

Massive contamination can also occur due to the water generated from the
mining sites. This water is concentrated with high amounts of chemicals used for
mining as well as metals from the ground ore. Also, water produced from mine
cooling, aqueous extraction, and mine drainage among other mining activities
further augment the contamination of water surfaces.

Heavy metals can be transported into the groundwater by runoff leading to

devastating effect if consumed by humans or animals. Examples are the

39
Britannia Mine – a former copper mine in Vancouver, and the Tar Creek mibe in
Picher, Oklahoma which reportedly has high levels of heavy metal
contamination.

2. Erosion

The exposed hillsides, tailing dams and mine dumps become eroded through
mining activities. Siltation of drainages and rivers due to erosion contribute to
environmental degradation. An example is the Ok Tedi Mine located in Papua
New Guinea. Moreover, mining activities may render farming or grazing land
unproductive. Shallow extraction techniques, geological discontinuity, and
weak overburden can cause sinkholes which create a large depression on the
surface of the mining area.

3. Effects on biodiversity

When mining, extensive areas of land and vegetation are cleared. The viability
of the land for farming activities deteriorate and animals loss their
habitats. Biodiversity losses are, therefore, experienced in the area due
to habitat modification in terms of factors such as pH changes and temperature
changes.

The endemic species of the area will, as a result, be highly affected owing to their
sensitivity to the environmental changes. One important thing to note is that the
impact of the mining activities on biodiversity will depend on bioavailability and
morbidity of the contaminant. When contaminants have low mobility, they will
stay inert in the mining area. Those that have high mobility will move into another
area occupied by organisms leading to poisoning.

4. Bio magnification

Another critical concern of mining to the environment is Bio magnification.

Animals in the lower levels of the food chain and living near mining areas will
consume heavy metals. These animals are then consumed by those above them
in the food chain and this continues until to the top of the chain. The toxic metals
will move gradually from the consumer to the top of the chain through the feeding
relationship.

5. Effect on aquatic animals

Mining activities can cause direct poisoning of the marine animals when the toxic
chemicals and heavy metals are transported through run off to the water bodies.
Due to the bioavailability of these hazardous materials in the water, they can
modify the pH affecting the plants that the aquatic animals feed on.

40
There is also physical effect caused by the silt deposited in water surface as a
result of mining which can lead to reduced visibility and clogging of respiratory
surfaces of the aquatic animals.

6. Destruction and loss of vegetation cover

Surface mining results in deforestation and this has long term effects even after
the mine has been decommissioned and the land refilled with soil and replanted.
Besides, the majority of plant species have a very low tolerance to high
concentrations of metals in the soil except for grass.

Plants that are intolerant to such conditions will fail to germinate in the reclaimed
areas. Plants in such areas are normally affected through direct poisoning,
modification of pH, clogging of their leaf surfaces by dust particles, or
unavailability of nutrients.

Solutions for the Mining Problem

• Government regulations
• Reduce consumption
• Reuse and recycle
• Nature reserves
• Education
• Convince others

Government regulations
• One important measure against the potential adverse effects of mining on
our environment is government regulation and restriction.
• Authorities have to make sure that mining is done in a responsible
manner.
• This includes the protection of workers and also the protection of local
wildlife and plants.
• In some countries, there are already quite strict regulations related to
mining practices.
• However, in many countries, especially in poor developing countries,
there are often quite low safety standards in place.
• This has to be changed in order to mitigate the adverse effects related to
mining.

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Reduce consumption
• Our excessive consumption levels also contribute to the problems caused
by mining.
• In our daily life and in our society in general, everyone wants to have the
newest smartphone, the hippest clothes and so on.
• However, this also implies that the old stuff is often thrown away even if it
is still functional.
• Through this behaviour, large amounts of resources are wasted on a daily
basis.
• We have to change our behaviour in a way that we value things that are
old but still functional.
• We have to make used goods be regarded as more valuable and not
dodgy.
• Therefore, we have to change our value system and beliefs.
• Only then will it be possible to sustain lower consumption levels in an
effective fashion.
Reuse and recycle
• We should also reuse our old stuff.
• For example, if you find things that are still working but you do not use
them anymore, try to find people who still see value in it.
• By doing so, you can save resources and also ensure that resources are
used more efficiently.
• Moreover, if you do not have people who want to use your old stuff, at
least make sure that these old things can be recycled in an effective way.
• This implies separating your waste properly.

Nature reserves
• To protect the environmental system from the adverse effects of mining,
states and governments have to install enough nature reserves so that
animals and plants are protected from harmful human interventions.
• Nature reserves are crucial for animals and plant species to reproduce
since they provide and ensure their natural living conditions.
• Thus, nature reserves are another measure to mitigate the adverse
effects of mining operations.

Education
• Education is another crucial measure against mining and its adverse
effects on the environmental system.
• We have to show people how harmful mining can be to our planet.
• This education should start at a quite young age.
• By educating school children, they are likely to also convince their parents
and so also parents are likely to pay more attention to this issue and act
accordingly.

42
 • In addition, when these educated children turn into grownups, they are
also more likely to adjust their behaviour in an environmentally-friendly
manner.
• The biggest contribution we can make to mitigate the adverse effects
related to mining is to reduce our consumption levels.
• This topic should be at the core of the education process.

Convince others
• Making your contribution, especially through a reduction in consumption,
matters!
• However, you can do much more than that.
• You should try to convince your family and friends about the adverse
consequences of their consumption behavior and how this also translates
into the adverse effects caused by mining.
• By doing so, you can change not only your own behavior but also
contribute to a changed consumption behavior on a large scale.

Discussion

Mining is an important source to meet the demand for precious metals and
other elements that are crucial for our daily life.However, mining also has
severe negative effects on the environmental system, including humans,
animals, plants and also aquatic life.In order to mitigate the adverse effects
of mining, it is crucial that we reduce our consumption levels.
Industries only mine on large scale since our consumption levels lead to such
high demand.If we reduce our consumption levels, the incentive for mining
will also be reduced since resource prices are likely to drop.
Therefore, if everyone makes his or her contribution, the mining problem can
be mitigated in an effective way in order to ensure a livable future for future
generations.

43
4.WATER POLLUTION
4.1.Where does the water in our tap come from?

The natural ecosystem of Chennai comprises three rivers, five wetlands and six
forest areas. The three rivers of Chennai are Kosathalaiyar, Cooum and Adyar.
And then there is the Buckingham Canal, which though manmade, plays an
equally important role in the water map of the city.

With three rivers and five wetlands, why is Chennai staring at

ecological collapse?

Since 1639, Madras has expanded vastly in area and population. At inception,
the fort was 7.7 sq.km in area and by an estimate around 1650, its population
was 15,000. Between 1901 to 2011 Chennai City grew in area from 75 sq.km to
174 sq.km and its population from 5 lakh to 46.4 lakh. Greater Chennai now
covers 436 sq.km and its population, 86.5 lakh. Population density has increased
from 6.8 thousand per sq.km in 1901 to 26.6 thousand in 2011.Not surprisingly,
both the increase in absolute population and the density have put a heavy strain
on the natural resources of our city- the heritage that Nature endowed the city
with.

Does the water resources of Chennai serve its purpose?

4.1.1.How Cooum lost its holy status?

Inherent geography and rapid increase in population plotted the destruction of
the river. So synonymous with filth has the river become that every puddle of
dirty water in Chennai is called the Cooum.
“Taking a dip in Cooum was considered as a way of reaching salvation..”
“Taking a dip in Cooum now can only reach you to grave”
Adyar, Cooum, Kosasthalaiyar and the manmade Buckingham canal are the
macro drainages.They have a huge capacity to carry flood water which is by now
reduced to half the capacity due to encroachments.

Clean up drive to cause more pollution in Cooum: Tamil Nadu has spent crores
of rupees over the years to clean up the Cooum. Now, in the name of restoring
it, the Chennai Metro Water has laid sewer lines over the river, risking further
pollution of the Cooum through possible leakages.The Chennai Metro Water
Supply and Sewerage Board has been implementing several projects as part of
the Cooum river eco-restoration project. While laying pipelines through road cuts
is an alternate option which might incur additional costs for the board, it has
decided to lay the pipes which will pass a few metres above the river bed. “When
there is a leakage, sewage will flow right into the river and the public may not
even know. Is this better than the river’s current condition where sewage flows

44
into it from various sources, including stormwater drains?” asked Lakshathipathi
A, a resident and civic activist at Mehta Nagar, where an I&D project is being
implemented.
Official sources said that the primary lack of focus on the larger picture of
restoring the Cooum is because of the lack of coordination between departments
– PWD, Metro Water, the City Corporation and their umbrella body, the CRRT.
"Each government department is intent to carry out the project awarded to them
and show their progress at least on paper lest they are questioned. The collective
goal to restore the Cooum river is lost," the official said.
Major reason for the destruction of cooum is due to the formation of
sandbars/dunes at the river where it joins the sea. The reason for the formation
of sand dunes is the Chennai harbour. The Chennai harbor, an artificial harbor,
is nothing but a long wall built into the sea from the coast. So the sand which was
to move further north of Chennai Port, started getting accumulated south of it.
This completely restrict the flow and this is the reason for the cooum river
remains stagnated.The Buckingham canal and the Cooum river were once a life
saver. During 2004, the tsunami in Chennai, if there wasn’t the Buckingham
canal present, the impact of tsunami could have been worse. Similarly if the
Buckingham canal was in a good condition during 2015, the flood could have
easily tackled. Thus it has saved and could have saved many lives.

4.1.2.The danger of Adyar river: ENCROACHMENT

One of the first issues which had to be undertaken in restoring the river was
rehousing human settlements along the banks, according to an official source
who wished to remain anonymous. A CRRT official added that 47 human
settlement areas were identified along the Adayar River banks. The irony of
Adyar is that it is not just the poor and marginalised who live and play by the
river. Once the river passes under the Kotturpuram Bridge the landscape of the
river changes and those living on its banks are the rich and affluent.

Revi Thomas, a veteran rower, says, “Thirty years ago when we rowed out from
Madras Boat Club to the Broken Bridge the water was clear and the surrounding
wetlands were conducive to bird life. We could see large flocks of birds near the
river. Sadly, now we see nothing.”

In order to address ecological issues and to implement long term measures as

the holistic solution to restore the ecology of the Adyar estuary, a Master Plan
and Detailed Project Report for Ecological Restoration of Adyar Creek and
Estuary was prepared and restoration activities is being carried out. The
objective of eco-restoration of Adyar estuary and creek is to achieve and
maintain best feasible water quality in its riverine and estuarine stretches and
thus provide an opportunity to bring back the natural endemic life forms that
interact with abiotic elements and create a healthy ecosystem.

45
46
4.1.3.Kosasthalaiyar river, more dangerous than industrial effluents
According to the latest study, the Kosasthalai river water is more contaminated
than effluents let out by industries. The committee report said the flood plains,
bed of Kosasthalai river and Buckingham Canal have considerably aggraded due
to fly ash deposits by as much as 1.0 or higher. This has had considerable
influence on the ecological function of the sensitive marshland ecosystem.
Further, the flood carrying capacity of the river and canal has been considerably
reduced, resulting in poor disposal rate of flood waters and eventually resulting
in increased inundation in upstream areas. The whole of North Chennai can be
affected.
“Fish is an inexpensive source of protein for the poor. Dumping contaminated
sand in this section of the river is like poisoning their food. This place is where
we catch the fish that we sell in the market “ said R.L. Srinivasan, a fishermen
from kattukuppam.
Environmentalist Nithyanand Jayaraman says the government seems to be
prepared to sacrifice the wetlands in Ennore. “There are 38 large polluting
industries around the wetland and there’s an ongoing gas leakage as well. The
attention given to Adyar and cooum is not given to Kosasthalaiyar. It is just a
matter of priority.” he says, adding that the government’s thermal power plant are
the offenders in this case.

Solution:
• Dredging the floating wastes
• Slum clearance along the river
• Removal of the sand bars/dunes
• Stop disposing the sewage into the river directly
• Using Trash booms
• Creation of Riparian buffer

Why Chennai’s water crisis should worry you?

All the four major reservoirs that supply drinking water to Chennai have dipped
far below the zero level and today hold not even 1% of their capacity. Chennai is
now critically dependent on its three mega water desalination plants with a
combined capacity of 180 mld, and the units are working overtime to remain at
least 80-90% efficient. The New Veeranam pipeline brings 90 mld water from a
1,100-yearold Chola-era 235 km away. Water stagnating for months in huge
abandoned stone quarries is being pumped out to fill tanks and tankers for about
5% of the city's 8.5 lakh households that have Metrowater connections. Even
during ‘normal times, as against the city's requirement of 1,300 mld, Metrowater
was able to supply only 830 mld. Now, they ‘officially' maintain that the supply is
in the region of 500-525 mld, but there is no way a neutral source can verify the
claim as residents complain about an 80% drop in frequency as well as quantity
of water supplied to households. And barring the famed fresh water aquifer
abutting East Coast Road (ECR), underground water level has plummeted to a
level few experienced in the recent decades. Even the Pallikaranai marshland,

47
which used to be spread over nearly 7,000 hectares, but has now shrunk to
684.73 hectares, has gone dry. With no sign of good rains for at least another
100 days, it is not the question of surviving a week or two ‘somehow'. It needs
enormous perseverance and a long-haul strategy to survive in Chennai. Already
there are plans to bring water by train wagons from Vellore, which is about 143
km away.

Policy choices deepened problem:

Policy paralysis for decades on the water front is to blame. For instance, the
government opened the IT Corridor and showered builders and IT companies
with floor space benefits, but no thought was given to the source of water for
drinking and regular use. Today, the IT Corridor has at least 150 mega structures
owned by 650 big companies that employ 3.2 lakh people. Besides, there are
more than 12.5 lakh residents, too. But they have no piped water supply and
borewells are of no use as the clayey soil yields highly saline and soapy water.
Their sole source of water is private tankers that used to recklessly plunder farm
wells located a short distance away. The IT Corridor alone needs 3 crore litres
of water daily, and the 700-odd private water tankers, most of them of 24,000-
litre capacity, fill this critical civic gap. There are even about a dozen 48,000-litre
14-wheeled monster trucks catering to office needs. They loot farm wells by
paying a pittance to farmers and make a killing by selling water to IT companies
and gated communities at fancy prices. When the Madras high court tried to curb
this unfettered exploitation of groundwater, and pointed to the total absence of
regulations governing the trade, the tanker lobby responded with a strike. After
bringing the government to its knees and the entire IT Corridor to the brink of
closure, tanker operators won a concession: the authorities would turn a blind
eye to the plunder.

People’s opinion:

Person 1:
Chennai fought for Jallikattu, SL Tamil, but ignored TN farmers ( nor supported)
need for water. Now Chennai is without water, begging water from agricultural
districts of TN.Tamilian spirits are only on FB, whatsapp and twitter. Chennai &
People of Chennai are a true symbol of "failure" to learn from 2005 and 2015
floods.

Person 2:
Great time to move to rural areas. Leave the cities. Do rainwater harvesting.
Build 10 massive desalination plants & pay full prices. Recycle & reuse every
drop of water.

Person 3:
The state of Tamilnadu instead of giving free grinders, fans, TV sets and others
should start saving the waterbodies.

48
Discussion:

Twenty-seven-year-old woman, a house help in Chennai, does not know much

about deficient rainfall, rainwater harvesting or the city’s degraded water bodies.
All she knows is that once in two days, a lorry supplies the 20 pots of water that
her household requires, and that she has to carry those pots to the first floor of
her small flat. A vast majority of the people in the city are like her, ignorant of the
harsh reality of water supply and its management as a resource.

If you look at Chennai’s relationship with water, you can’t deny the uncanny
resemblance of its relationship to a Human life. It got its great Up’s and Downs
followed by negligence and then affairs with private water sources almost
forsaking the basic source and ultimately the breakup which has led to the
current water crisis that Chennai is undergoing.

It’s that time of the year again when “Water water everywhere but not a drop to
drink” becomes a common headline in Chennai newspapers. But this Robert
Browning quote from ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ highlights a fatal truth:
there is very little of the most important source of life on earth – potable water –
and Chennai, despite its pioneering water policy, has been struggling with
supplying its most basic needs.

The Chennai water calamity is a leveller, indeed:

It has hit everyone, without any rich-poor bias.

In our modern society today where urbanization is growing at a fast pace, more
than half of world’s population lives in metropolitan cities. One of the main
features distinguishing a metro city from a town or a village is its stark lack of
greenery and abundance of concrete structures. They are correctly called as
concrete jungles. Because of this feature, cities have a huge problem with
managing rainwater or storm water.

In a village or small town, 50% of the rainwater is absorbed into the ground, 40%
evaporates or transpires through the trees and rest 10% is runoff on the
surface. Where in a big city where greenery is almost gone and trees are being
cut down to make way for widening of roads, the rain water has nowhere to go.
Due to 80% of a city’s surface being paved roads or sidewalks, the rainwater can
only be drained through gutters and drainage systems. There is only 15%
absorption into the ground and rest 55% is runoff water. This makes the storm
water drainage and sewerage as part of the essential infrastructure of a modern
city.

49
4.2.Lake encroachment: AMBATTUR LAKE

The once-thriving Ambattur lake is a consolidation of three small lakes:

Korattur lake, Madhavaram lake and Ambattur lake. It spans around an area of
990 acres in the western part of the city, which has shrunk almost by half
from 650 acres, is at risk of dying due to unchecked pollution. Once served as
an important water reserve for the neighbourhood but unfortunately it has been
reduced to the level of being an ‘open drain’ nowadays. The lake was treated
as a substitute to the Puzhal reservoir.

To worsen things, sewerage is discharged from the neighbouring housing

board tenements into the water body. This has led to complete deterioration of
the lake affecting the quality of water and water ecosystem. The irony is that
despite the presence of such a large waterbody in the locality, the more than
17,000 residents here are dependent on Metro Water supply, as the lake is
severely contaminated.

From where does the sewage water flows?

“The sewage water from Krishnapuram, Vivek Nagar, Thiruvenkata Nagar, and
Nehru Nagar is to be pumped to Koyambedu sewage treatment plant from the
pumping station here at Ward 81, but as the station is not functional for the past
few days, sewage from the drains is flowing into Ambattur lake, and now the
lake is mixed with sewage water,” said a resident.

“If this situation continues, the entire lake will be polluted and it would take
years to restore it.”

"About 45 years ago, when we were kids,

we used to swim in this lake. The water
was so clean and fresh that hundreds of
migratory birds used to visit the lake.
Now, we only find garbage and concrete
in this waterbody," said Balachandran,
a member of Ambattur Waterbodies
Protection Movement (AWPM).

50
How much of the lake area is encroached so far?

The image clearly indicates the current encroachment in the Ambattur lake, the
1972 boundary has marked to show the amount of settlement which has been
developed in the past four decades. Nearly 40 percent of the lake area has been
occupied. The upper part of the lake which is above the railway track has a
resemblance of pond like structure due to the sewage water dumped in the lake
and solid waste is being dumped near the lake area. The chemical content is
more in the lake. The eastern part once has open space and now has been
covered by the settlements. The below image shows the encroached region in
the lake for 2016. In the year 1972, the total lake area was approx. of 280.38
hectare of land, which is reduced to 173.67 hectare, i.e., nearly 40 percent of the
lake has shrunk.

What could be the impact of urbanisation and encroachment in

Ambattur lake?

From the above figure it is the evident that the water body is vanishing and
shrinking because of the dumping of residential sewage and industrial waste.
This has resulted in an alarming increase of alkaline and acidic content in the
water body which has subsequently led to the rapid growth of a dense layer of
algae and weeds. The sewage water from the residential region has been
marked in blue colour line. This is the main reason behind the death of aquatic
life in the water body. The industrial effluents discharged into the aquatic system
change the Physio-Chemical properties of water such as hardness, conductivity,
pH value, turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Suspended Solids, Chemical
Oxygen and Dissolved Oxygen.

51
How to stop the vanishing of the lake?

• Proper drainage facility should be planned for the residents and sewage
treat plant for industries must be checked regularly.
• Proper Law must be implemented for the protections of catchment
areas, and under construction building on lake or lake area must be
demolished.
• A few possible solutions are that domestic and industrial wastes should
be discarded in a controlled environment and not into the lake.
• Awareness program regarding lake conservation among residents
should be encouraged.

People’s opinion:

Person 1:
Subburaj, a resident in Ambattur observes that the size of the lake has reduced
from 600 acres to 400 acres and blame the polluted lake for water scarcity in
the area, stating that groundwater level has reduced over the years. “Other
than this, there is a stink all around the lake. Many residents throw the waste
into the lake which is also a major problem,” he notes.

Person 2:
"MKB Nagar, Sivananda Nagar, Samthariya Nagar, Sathyapuram and Nehru
Nagar are some of the areas that let polluted water into the lake. The first
step towards addressing this issue is fixing the sewage system in the area,"
said K Ramanujam, who has been residing in the area for over two decades.

Conclusion:

• The residential areas having no proper facilities of sewer line must be

encouraged to build septic tanks and must be motivated to cooperate
the government’s “Swatch Bharat Campaign” that strives to make
India a clean and disease-free country.

• If immediate actions are taken by the government and the public, the
water bodies in the urban areas will be saved for the future generation.

52
4.3.Why Chennai floods are a
man-made disaster?

Our ancestors have laid a fantastic

system of hydrology to channelize
the flood waters and also to store the
excess water for use in dry months.
The network comprises of River
water overflowing into subsequent
and smaller water bodies.
River > Lakes (Yeri) > KaNmai >
KaraNai > Thaangal > Yenthal >
OoraNi > KuLam > Kuttai.

These names themselves show

that Pazhavanthaangal and Vedanthaangal were water bodies once. Even now
there are some street names as Thaangal street in different parts of Chennai. It
means there was once a water body adjacent to that street.
The topography and hydrology of Chennai is such that Chennai is a low lying
area with an average elevation of only 6.7 metres above the mean sea level, with
many parts of it actually at sea level. This landscape of Chennai makes it a
marshy land that drains rain water into the adjacent sea. Chennai was indeed
dotted with numerous tanks and lakes as per old maps of the British. Agricultural
activity was going on at that time supported by these tanks.

Fig.1 shows a long semi curved tank spanning in between Coovum river and
Adyar river. The southern end of this tank is linked to Adyar river near
Saidapet. The map of 1914 gives clear details of this tank which by then acquired
the name “Long Tank”. The inset in the 1914 map (Fig.2) shows that this link
between Long tank and Adyar river is man-made. This must have existed much
before the British came. This is the proof of how our ancients thoughtfully
connected the waterways and the drainage system.

The Vyasar padi tank in this map was also a huge one at that time. But it is
missing at present. The Vyasarpadi Tank was one of the most important tanks
of Chennai along with 9 other tanks namely Perambur, Peravallur, Madavakkam,
Chetput, Spur, Nungambakkam, Mylapore/Mambalam, Kottur and
Kalikundram. All of them have vanished now.

53
Fig. 1

54
Fig. 2 - 1914 map

55
The Mount road was laid to the east of it. Today’s Mambalam, Mylapore, Panagal
Park, Nungambakkam etc were built on this Tank. No wonder when Adyar river
overflowed, the waters found their natural slopes in these areas in the recent
floods.

56
Reclamation of land from this tank was started from 1930 by the same Justice
Party, to create the Mambalam Housing Scheme on 1600 acres that gave rise to
Thiyagaraya Nagar or T. Nagar (named after the founder of Justice
Party). Destruction of hydro system in the name of development was started by
these Dravidian ideologists.

From 1941 onwards, further reclamation was done in Nungambakkam. At the

westernmost end of the Tank, 54 acres were reclaimed for the Loyola College
campus.In 1974 what was left of the Tank was reclaimed to give the city the
Valluvar Kottam campus alongside Tank Bund Road by none other than
Karunanidhi. It must be noted that Valluvar Kottam was constructed right at the
deepest part of the Long Tank.

57
The lost water bodies over the year in velachery, siruseri, sholinganallur.
There are about 3000 tanks and ponds big and small in Chennai area. Some of
the important tanks are Madipakkam, Velachery, Thoraipakkam, Pallavaram,
Madambakkam, Maraimalai nagar, Kilkattalai, Pallikaranai, Adambakkam,
Puzhuthivakkam, Thalakanancheri, Kovilambakkam, Chitlampakkam and so
on.These tanks can be classified endangered.

Two decades ago, Chennai had 650 water bodies—including big lakes, ponds
and storage tanks. The current number stands at around 27, according to the
NIDM study. Even those water bodies that have managed to survive are much
smaller than before. For instance, the total area of 19 major lakes in the city has
nearly halved from 1,130 hectares to about 645 hectares.

The Adambakkam Lake is being closed due to the Metro Rail work and a
concretised road leading from Velachery to GST Road is being built.

Madipakkam Lake has become a dumping yard for garbage and the water is not
fit for any use. And on the other side construction of buildings is going on a pace.

58
4.4.Will the Ancient engineering marvels of water management
of Tamil Nadu be a solution to bring back our water resources?
Yeri system:
Eris, a system of cascading tanks, were once completely managed by local
communities. With centralisation came disuse and lack of maintenance but an
organisation is working to revive them.
South India has a rich tradition of tanks with the three southern states of Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh contributing to close to 92% of the total
irrigation by tanks in the 1970s. Two decades later, this number dwindled to close
to 53%. A decade after that, in 2001, the total contribution of tank irrigation in all
of India was estimated to be just around 5.18%. In stark contrast, other sources
of irrigation such as borewells and tube wells have clocked consistent increase
in percentage use.

Tanks of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has no perennial rivers, they are all fed by the monsoons. These
rivers have to cross state boundaries before they irrigate the fields downstream.
Several hundred years ago, a system was devised to utilize the water flowing in
the rivers to the fullest before it reached the sea. It was a simple act of
engineering that diverted the river water into tanks through dug out earthen
channels, which in turn took care of the irrigation needs of neighbouring villages.

While it was easy to divert water to nearby villages, it wasn't that simple to
connect those that were far away from the source. Engineers devised a simple
solution- a series of cascading tanks. The outflow from one tank would serve as
the inflow for the next one in the series since the tanks were designed to allow
the excess water to flow out after it has reached its capacity. The thought and
effort put into designing these massive chains of receptacles and over-flow
channels hundreds of years back is awe-inspiring.

No concrete, no hi-tech machinery; all mud and man power.

The system and the non-system eris and their ayacuts

Eris are of two types – system and non-system eris. System eris are those which
are fed by streams of rivers through a channel, while the non-system ones are
stand-alone isolated tanks fed by rain. Most of the tanks in Tamil Nadu are
system eris.

59
The extent of the eri’s ‘ayacut’, which is the area that is irrigated by a particular
tank, determines the way in which it is governed. For example, if the water from
the tank irrigates 100 acres of land around it, then the tank’s 'ayacut' is said to
be 100 acres. If the 'ayacut' is over 100 acres, the tank is categorized as a ‘PWD
Tank’, where the Public Works Department of the state is responsible for its
maintenance and upkeep. If it is less than 100 acres, then tank is a designated
Union/Block-level tank managed by the local Panchayat.

The Neerkatti's role

Conceptualizing and constructing these structures is one thing but to keep them
viable in the long term is another altogether because that completely depends
on the way they are maintained and managed. Since village life is centred on
water and agriculture, the importance of keeping these structures well-oiled was
not lost on the community. Ways were devised to retain the incoming water
based on the requirement of the village and the excess was allowed to flow into
the next tank in the series.

A dedicated person called the ‘neerkatti’ kept a close watch on the water level
and was in charge of channelling this water to individual fields. Villagers showed
their gratitude by sharing a part of their bounty with him. The entire village got
together to perform repair and maintenance work – called ‘kudimaramathu’ to

60
keep all the physical structures intact. But everything changed with the entry of
the British. From the knowledgeable ‘neerkatti’ and a concerned community, the
management of these tanks went to a centralised channel-the Public Works
Department.

4.4.1.Ancient Wisdom of Water Management

Tamil Nadu Revives Kudimaramathu

In Tamil, the word “Kudi” means people and “maramathu” means repairing or
construction. Finally realising the economic and environmental benefits of small
waterbodies, the Tamil Nadu government has revived kudimaramathu, the
centuries-old practice of building and maintaining ponds and tanks with
community involvement. The scheme will be successful and sustainable only if
local farmers and stakeholders are empowered to select, maintain and repair
these waterbodies.
The main purpose of the scheme is to increase the storage capacity of
irrigation structures, which would help in cultivation and lift the groundwater
table. Under this scheme, 90 per cent of the cost involved in Kudimaramath
works would be borne by the government and 10 per cent by the user
communities. If farmers wish to carry out this work on a much larger scale and
are ready to contribute, the government would also increase its share, sources
said. Removing weeds, thorny shrubs, maintaining the lake bunds and inflow
canals, removing the sand sediments in sluice gates, levelling the surface of
the lake, renovating other structures in the lakes and ponds are among the
works to be completed under the Kudimaramath scheme.
This massive effort is being taken up to rejuvenate the irrigation structures
under the Public Works Department. Similarly, rural local bodies will undertake
a large-scale programme to improve minor irrigation tanks and irrigation
structures under their control, besides cleaning up and improving ponds,
ooranies (dug-out pond that traps rainwater run-off) and temple tanks by
dovetailing funds under MGNREGS. Further, funds will be allocated from
NABARD assistance for this scheme.
While all the villages where Kudimaramathu work were undertaken, the
farmers liked the scheme; but the way in which the scheme was planned and
implemented and the adopted processes were not liked by most of the farmers
because of the following reasons:
• The Kudimaramath scheme for their village had not been properly
explained to them with regards to components of work included and the
item-wise cost of each component. Their input in the planning stage was
minimal and they had no say in deciding which structures shall be
rejuvenated.

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 • The PWD did not investigate hydrological endowment of the tanks, type
and depth of silt within the tank bed and their demarcation so that
farmers can decide and take the type of silt they want. It has also
resulted in inferior quality of work. Because of this, funds allocated for
different components by PWD do not match the stipulated work, often
resulting in incomplete work for some components.
• The release of funds for the work already completed takes a long time
resulting in delays due to inadequate cash flow with the contractor.
• Inadequate monitoring during implementation by PWD officials has led
to haphazard desilting and use of sub-standard materials for bund
forming.
• Almost all the farmers feel that deepening of the tank is inadequate to
store water of their needs. They are also not aware of the way budget
is allocated to different tanks under this program.

People’s opinion:
Person 4:
“According to me, these plans (Kudimaramathu and 100 days work) are not
being effective due to thoughtlessness and irresponsibility of the officers of the
local government. The workers are just whiling away during the work time.
These schemes are just to employ people and thus the scheme is not working
efficiently. My suggestion is that the same work can be done in less time by
having a JCB (heavy construction vehicle).”
Discussion:
In many cases the implementation of the scheme is like any other top down
scheme with little role of community where WUAs(Water Users’ Association)
exist only on paper and community participation is limited to program
documents.
But in some cases, with proper implications and awareness about the scheme,
it has brought unity among villages even in a multi community setup.

4.5.How does sand mining affect environment?

Sand is in high demand in the construction sector. By 2020, 1.4 billion tonnes of
sand will be required in India. Sand mining is thus a lucrative business and fuels
illegal extraction.

Illegal and unscientific sand mining is turning out to be one of the biggest
ecological disasters in modern India. Around 26 people, including journalists and
police officers, lost their lives in 2017 while trying to stop illegal sand mining.

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River sand is preferred for construction because it requires less processing and
has better quality than other sources. But it comes at a huge cost to the river and
those living around it. Excessive sand mining can alter the river bed, force the
river to change course, erode banks and lead to flooding. It also destroys
the habitat of aquatic animals and micro-organisms besides affecting
groundwater recharge.

Guidelines on the extraction of sand say that the amount of sand removed should
be in proportion to its replenishment rate and river width. Mining from a braided
channel with a wide floodplain will have less impact than from a narrow channel.

Classifying into three categories:

Physical: The large-scale extraction of streambed materials, mining and

dredging below the existing streambed, and the alteration of channel-bed
form and shape leads to several impacts such as erosion of channel bed
and banks, increase in channel slope, and change in channel morphology.

These impacts may cause:

1. The undercutting and collapse of river banks
2. The loss of adjacent land and/or structures
3. Upstream erosion as a result of an increase in channel slope
and changes in flow velocity
4. Downstream erosion due to increased carrying capacity of the
stream, downstream changes in patterns of deposition, and
changes in channel bed and habitat type.

Water Quality: Mining and dredging activities, poorly planned stockpiling

and uncontrolled dumping of overburden, and chemical/fuel spills will cause
reduced water quality for downstream users, increased cost for downstream
water treatment plants and poisoning of aquatic life.

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Ecological: Mining which leads to the removal of channel substrate,
resuspension of streambed sediment, clearance of vegetation, and
stockpiling on the streambed, will have ecological impacts. These impacts
may have an effect on the direct loss of stream reserve habitat, disturbances
of species attached to streambed deposits, reduced light penetration,
reduced primary production, and reduced feeding opportunities.

Can Innovation reduce sand consumption ?

One avenue to reducing sand extraction is implementing a more rigorous
recycling infrastructure and moving toward a circular economy for concrete. In
the US, most recycled concrete is used as aggregate in road base, with less than
a quarter being used to produce new concrete.

Recycling glass into glass sand has demonstrated qualities similar to natural
sand, with no loss of strength. Using larger particles of crushed glass to produce
concrete can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 18%, and studies have shown
recycled glass can be used for beach replenishment, both reducing shoreline
damage by sand extraction while also reducing the amount of glass that goes to
landfill.

Research from the University of Bath and India’s Goa Engineering College found
that sand sized PET particles from recycled plastic bottles gave the best results
when testing plastic as a potential replacement for sand in concrete. The plastic
alternative achieved a target compressive strength of 54MPa, similar to the
strength of concrete. By replacing just 10% of the sand used in concrete with
plastic, the study estimated that 820 million tonnes of sand could be saved per
year.

The new sand mining framework suggests the use of geo-fencing, and GPS-
enabled transportation to check illegal mining. Price control, the involvement of
women self-help groups and regular audits of sand reserves have also been
recommended.

Cooum sand mined illegally in the heart of chennai.

"This sand (from the river mouth) can never be used for construction. If used, the
buildings will fall. The clay content will not allow for proper mixing," said S Rama
Prabhu, Builders Association of India state secretary.

"The Cooum is one of the most important urban rivers. Bodies like the Chennai
Rivers Restoration Trust only undertake cosmetic interventions and fail to protect
these rivers," he added.

Palar River

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“If the sand quarries are opened, it should not lead to groundwater depletion in
areas around the quarry. Factors such as human habitation surrounding the
proposed quarry would be taken into account for the study,” said an official.

“It would expose the layer of the liver, hampering percolation of rainwater or
water flowing beneath the surface. The palar is the only river course in Tamil
Nadu with stepwells that have traditionally been used for sourcing sub-surface
water,” said Ramjee Nagarajan.
Interview

Person 5:
Sand mining on a river bank is hazardous for the river, and also for people living
on the bank of the river. Because of river mining and a large amount of river sand
(coarse and fine), also silt excavates out for construction purposes. It leads to a
change in the path of the stream. And enhance the erosion at a river bank.
Sometimes it leads to river bank failure. It is also harmful to those people who
live in the surrounding, because the river can change its direction anytime, and
their house could be washed out so easily. It better not make any building or any
infrastructure at river floodplain. Sand mining at riverbanks should be strictly
banned.

Discussion:
Weak governance and rampant corruption are facilitating illegal mining posing
depletion of water resources. The socio-economic significance of mining
operations is often overlooked, and there is a need to protect its economic and
social benefits. Because of a poor handling of resources, soil and sand mining
cause negative impacts to the environment. The system of preparing an EMP
(Electrical Mechanical Plumbing) report for clearance from the Government of
India prior to implementation of mining project has been a positive step of
minimizing the negative impacts. The government should exercise prudence
when it comes to leasing out the riverbed for mining activities and also demarcate
areas clearly and monitor mining through a suitable institutional mechanism. A
high-level lobbying committee must be formed and Laws has to be enforced in
an efficient and unbiased way and decisive steps are to be taken for
environmental solution.

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4.6.WET CITY TO ZERO WATER CITY

Formerly called Madras, Chennai sits on a low plain on the southeast coast of
India, intersected by three main rivers, all heavily polluted, that drain into the Bay
of Bengal.
The cyclone-prone waters of the Bay of Bengal periodically surge into the city,
forcing back the sewage-filled rivers to overflow into the streets. Rainfall is
uneven, with up to 90% falling during the northeast monsoon season in
November and December. When rains fail, the city must rely on huge
desalination plants and water piped in from hundreds of kilometers away
because most of its rivers and lakes are too polluted.

While climate change and extreme weather have played a part, the main culprit
for Chennai's water woes is poor planning.

As the city grew, vast areas of the surrounding floodplain, along with its lakes
and ponds, disappeared. Between 1893 and 2017, the area of Chennai's water
bodies shrank from 12.6 square kilometers to about 3.2 square kilometers,
according to researchers at Chennai's Anna University. Most of that loss was in
the past few decades, including the construction of the city's famous IT corridor
in 2008 on about 230 square kilometers of marshland.
The team from Anna University projects that by 2030 around 60% of the city's
groundwater will be critically degraded.

Why Chennai got flooded?

• No improvement in Infrastructure
• The banks of rivers were
occupied making the rivers
narrow
• Construction on lakes
• Improper waste management

Floods and water scarcity have the same

roots: Urbanisation and construction in
an area, mindless of the place's
natural limits," said Nityanand
Jayaraman, a writer and environmental
activist who lives in Chennai.

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Context
Three rivers flowing through Chennai are all polluted
Chennai is a low plain city with a natural ecosystem comprising three rivers, five
wetlands, and six forest areas. However, the three rivers are all heavily
polluted.As a trading link, the city boomed and its rapid urbanization paved the
way for more houses and greater industrialization, albeit with poor planning.The
city also gets an average 1,400mm of rainfall a year.

Information
Cyclones in Bay of Bengal worsen flood problem
Further, cyclones in the Bay of Bengal cause water from the sewage-filled rivers
to flood Chennai's streets. The rainfall is also uneven—90% of it falling during
the monsoon season in November and December. When rains fail, Chennai has
to rely on huge desalination plants.

Reason
As Chennai grew, its lakes and ponds disappeared
Between 1893 and 2017, Chennai's water bodies shrank from 12.6 square
kilometers to about 3.2 square kilometers, Bloomberg reported citing
researchers at Chennai's Anna University.Most of that loss occurred in the past
few decades. Notably, Chennai's IT corridor was constructed in 2008 on 230
square kilometers of marshland.It is estimated that around 60% of Chennai's
groundwater will be critically degraded by 2030.

Information
'Politics, business have visions too short-sighted'
"The two most powerful agents of change—politics and business—have visions
that are too short-sighted," Nityanand Jayaraman, a writer and environmental
activist who lives in Chennai, told Bloomberg, "Unless that changes, we are
doomed."

2015 floods
Chennai faced worst floods in century in 2015
Due to the lack of places available to hold precipitation, flooding increased, and
in 2015, Chennai faced the worst deluge in a century.In a single day, the city
received 494mm of rain. Over 400 people were killed and 1.8 million were
displaced.Floodwaters reached as high as the second floor of some buildings in
the IT corridor.

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Why is Chennai in drought?
The city simply has no capacity to retain water when it rains. Most of the rainwater
gets drained out into the sea. As a result, the natural aquifers are drying up and
it causes huge distress during low monsoon years. For instance, during drinking
water shortages several farmers had switched to selling water.

What is day zero?

The moment when some four million inhabitants would be left without
water. Its existential crisis was triggered by a severe and unanticipated
drought that turned all the local reservoirs into dustbowls.
With fewer places to hold precipitation, flooding increased. In 2015, Chennai
suffered its worst inundation in a century. The northeast monsoon dumped as
much as 494mm (19.4 inches) of rain on the city in a single day.
Four years later it was a shortage of water that made headlines. The city hit what
it called Day Zero as all its main reservoirs ran dry, forcing the government to
truck in drinking water. People stood in lines for hours to fill containers, water
tankers were hijacked, and violence erupted in some neighborhoods.

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1. Almost 2400 acres of water bodies disappeared by 2016

2.Only 5 out of 210 water bodies restored

3. Over 50% structures non-compliant with rainwater harvesting

4. 20% decrease in reservoir capacity due to poor maintenance

5. No action on 3 heavily polluted rivers

6. At least 3 different agencies oversee Chennai’s water bodies

What are the problems faced by civil engineers?

13-year delay in Master Plan notification, 25-year delay in

revision of State Water Policy

Meanwhile, builders are suffering too. The staff at site must be housed and
watered. This is proving to be an expensive, and for some, an impossible
proposition. But what really hurts, says Ananth Vummidi, managing director,
BBCL, a real estate developer, is the lack of predictability.“In a project, I have to
decide whether or not to pour the concrete. Once I’m laying a roof, I need to
water the concrete. If I don’t have water, the quality of the entire construction
suffers. This kills the project.”

Speaking to News18, Jayaram Venkatesan, convenor of citizens’ advocacy

group Arappor Iyakkam, said, “Strong political will is needed to strengthen the
infrastructure of Chennai and protect the city from floods in the future. Most
importantly, it is the duty of the government to restore all waterbodies to their
original or maximum capacity.”
Venkatesan said these waterbodies should be restored to their original capacity to be
used during summer months or in extreme drought.

“According to the government, concretizing is restoration, which is not factual.

Subsequently, the encroachments that were made over 40 years ago cannot be
reversed. Rather, the encroachments that were registered in last 10 years by
bribing or without getting ‘patta‘ can easily be reversed.

Moreover, FIR should be filed against the CMDA (Chennai Metropolitan

Development Authority) and revenue department officials who indulged in
‘registration for bribes’ over the last 10 years. These actions will bring down
corruption in registrations,” Venkatesan said.

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From droughts to floods: Chennai's water problem needs
immediate solving

Day Zero
In 2019, Chennai hit Day Zero
In the summer of 2019, Chennai hit Day Zero: the day when a city's taps dry
out.The government was forced to truck in 10 million liters of water a day.Chaotic
scenes unfolded as people lined up to fill water containers for hours.Reports had
emerged of tankers being hijacked and violence also erupted in some
neighborhoods.

Is Chennai prepared to cope with droughts and floods?

The truth is that Chennai is neither designed to cope with floods nor with
droughts, but the climate crisis is making both ever more likely. Chennai’s water
comes from four reservoirs that are located a little outside the city. They are rain-
water fed, which means that, when the monsoons fail, water shortages paralyse
the city.

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What is the reason for water scarcity?

No water – or too much of it

In the summer of 2019, Chennai’s water-supply system collapsed because

of drought. Compounding people’s problems in this south Indian megacity,
boreholes ran dry as well. The irony was that not even four years earlier
there had been flooding.

Every year, as summer arrives, we brace for uncertainty in our city that was
formerly known as Madras. In normal, pre-pandemic times, the main roads were
a happy sight, with street vendors selling thinly sliced raw mangoes slathered in
chillies and salt. During the hottest months – March to May – they also sell juicy
water melon, ice apples and tender coconut water.

Unfortunately, the hot months are also when most smaller roads are crowded
with people in queues waiting to fill pots and containers with water. Commercial
and government tankers bring water to parched homes in the dead of the night
or in the midst of a busy work day. No one knows when exactly they will arrive

Conclusion
. Due to the current environment of chennai’construction industrya few initiatives
need to be taken to improve the current practices. These Initiatives include: a.
Improved process; the waste management b. Improved the use of recycle and
reuse resources; c. Improved the protection enhancement of biodiversity and; d.
Reduce transportation dependency. As mentioned earlier, to increase the
consideration of sustainability, the construction stakeholders must be willing to
change their attitudes and culture in exploring new territory and willing to adopt
new ideas and practices especially regarding the environmental issues.

CHENNAI WATER CRISIS 2021

Chennai water crisis solution 1: Increased Reservoir Capacity

Until 2019, three of four reservoirs were trusted to meet Chennai’s water
demand. But, today five Reservoirs and Dams infrastructures are being
managed to store and supply water for Chennai. The water storage capacity in
each of these reservoirs is also more closely monitored: as of March 2021,
stands at 7,849 Million Cubic Feet (mcft): 70% increase from the preceding year,
March 2020. All five reservoirs are up to 95% of their storage capacity – A strong
reason that this summer 2021, Chennai will have adequate, if not abundant,
water supply.

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Chennai water crisis solution 2: Higher Groundwater Levels

The city’s groundwater levels have risen by 2.5 meters in many areas. The
‘average’ water table level, which stood at 4.09 meters below ground level (m
bgl) last January 2020, is at 2.15 (m bgl) this January 2021. Even the most water
arid zones of the city, like Perungudi and Valsarvakkam, saw groundwater table
rise by up to half a meter. The higher water table levels across the city will ensure
an abundant supply of bore waters to the individual houses. In all likelihood,
Chennai’s residents will have enough groundwater through the summer of 2021.

Chennai water crisis solution 3: Promote Water Sustainability

Many attribute this rise in groundwater levels solely to abundant NE monsoons

and rainfall. But, the aquifer levels of Chennai improved not just by monsoonal
rains but also by the government machinery that took extra-efforts to channelize,
percolate, and save the rain waters. A water restoration project based on hydro-
geological science of percolation to recharge ground waters was implemented
across the city.

Two immediate benefits were realized through this water restoration program:

1. The Desilted & Restored Waterbodies have better freshwater storage capacity
and have improved the overall Groundwater Levels in the neighborhoods.

2. The Restored Waterbodies acts as large-scale Rainwater Harvesting

Catchments, thereby decentralizing or reducing flood disaster risk in the event of
rains.

The restored water bodies today serve as an urban oasis to the local residents
of Chennai. Today, almost 130 waterbodies in the city have been restored,
additional inland water storage of 0.87 Thousand Million Cubic (TMC) has been
realized, and 4.35 TMC Groundwater has been recharged, through this water
restoration project.

Chennai’s Reservoirs, Waterbodies, Rainwater Harvesting Zones, Storm Water

Drains and Ground Water Structures are better managed today. The different
state agencies prolifically worked together to improve the city’s water situation.
Chennai’s water resources, watersheds and man-made hydrological structures
have been efficiently managed to promote water sustainability. Thanks to the
watershed management policies and implementation: Chennai will have
increased drinking water availability this summer 2021.

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4.7.CLIMATE CHANGE:
Climate change is one of the most complex problems facing mankind today. This
is evident from the rise the global average air, ocean temperatures, widespread
melting of snow and ice, and the rising global average sea level. It is projected
to have significant impacts on conditions affecting agriculture, including
temperature, precipitation and glacial run-off.

The reason India is so vulnerable to climate change is that it is a large country

with many living in poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of government
planning to deal with complex weather systems.

What are the impacts for climate change in Chennai?

Chennai’s land use patterns, population stress, abuse of natural resources and
climate has changed drastically in the last few years. Climate induced impacts
like drought, floods, heavy rains and winds are becoming increasingly evident in
the city. On one end of the continuum is summer water crisis and on the other
end is monsoonal flood disasters.

• Flood Disasters and Drought (Water Crisis) are two serious impacts of
Climate Change in Chennai.
• Chennai Bay of Bengal Sea is warmer. This would mean direct impacts
on sea water current, atmospheric pressure, atmospheric temperature
and uneven tropical rainfalls.
• Sea Water Intrusion in the city’s ground water table will greatly impact the
water quality and public health of citizens.
• Given our Mean Sea Level below 3 meters and topographical
homogeneity, the effects will be even in Central and South Chennai.
• Higher morbidity and mortality from heat stress and vector/ water-borne
diseases.
• Shifting forest borders; species mix; negative impact on livelihoods and
biodiversity.
• Fisheries are likely to be impacted as the area of spawning shifts to higher
latitudes.
• Sharp fall in land productivity.

“East Coast Road (ECR) and Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) which is today’s
landmark will receive the highest climate Impact!”

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“Don’t just blame climate change: Chennai floods were a
manmade disaster”

How the humans played hand?

Climate change is not the only guilty party: the scale of the disaster at Chennai
was magnified by a rampant disregard for town planning, and the basic principles
of ecology and hydrology. To name just a few of the violations: the international
airport is built on the floodplain of the Adyar river; the Mass Rapid Transit System
sits atop the Buckingham Canal; the government allowed buildings to be erected
over more than 273 hectares of the Pallikarni marshland to the south of the city;
and the city’s famed Information Technology and Knowledge Corridors
encompass wetlands and marshlands that would normally act as a sink for flood
water.

How does climate change make the heat presence in TN?

Over the years, Chennai has seen weather vagaries — from increasing
temperatures to declining rainfall, coupled with more intense cyclones and floods
— not as a consequence of the urban heat island effect (when cities replace the
natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings, and other
surfaces that absorb and retain heat) alone, but also as a result of climate
change.

“The weather pattern variation is there in the State, reflecting on atmospheric

circulations and low pressures. This will certainly change the rainfall pattern for
the years to come. For instance, the State had witnessed a significant decrease
in the cyclonic activities over the Bay of Bengal between 1961 and 2010,
particularly during and post northeast monsoons,” said Balachandran

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A new study involving three popular climate models has forecast that
Tamilnadu’s 1076 kms coast, including Chennai, may witness extreme spells of
rain during the north east monsoon in the 2020 to 2030 due to El Nino or the
warming of the specific. That’s in 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2026-27, the
probability of El Nino occurring is high.

Source: Article on Times of India

But, is Chennai prepared for this?

Chennai has several lakes, three major rivers and a canal cutting across the city.
And after the 2015 floods, there was a flurry of activity to build storm water drains.
But this November proved that all the infrastructure built in the past 15 years after
calculating just the road run-off and allowing for 5cm per hour rainfall was
inadequate. Witness what happened in areas such as Pullianthope, Velachery,
Alandur and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar. Worse, several projects planned for the next few
years, including the Kosasthalaiyar integrated storm water drain network, have
been designed to cater to a maximum of 7cm rainfall per hour. But the city may
witness 20cm per hour rainfall frequently in future. So, the city is not yet prepared
for the weather extremes in the coming years.

What could be done?

"The government needs to rework the projects keeping these forecasts in mind.
Crores of rupees may go down the drain if the Greater Chennai Corporation
doesn't reassess," said S Kumararaja, coordinator of south west federation of
Velachery. Activists who audited the city drains after the recent floods noted that
they didn't cater to the areas they were supposed to. The drain infrastructure
marred by faulty engineering may just not be enough to save the city.

"Since floods are part of a watershed, planners need to look at the entire
catchment area that includes the rivers, lakes and canals and calculate the
volume of run-off based on a 100-year return period. Hydrological models to
estimate where the carrying capacity is exceeded should be run. Just
constructing box-like concrete structures with other utilities crisscrossing won't
resolve the flooding issue," said an environmental engineer with the state
government.

Opinion:

The government should start looking for permanent solutions and not just go in
building catchment areas and stormwater drains etc…there should be enough
place for the rainwater to flow through. The city’s drainage system should be
analysed of issues and need to be redesigned in a better manner.

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4.8.SEA LEVEL RISE:
Will the rising sea levels submerge a third of Chennai?

By 2050, 144 sq km of land with almost ten lakh lives in Chennai would be in
danger if the sea level rises by a metre; this pegs the loss due to such a
development at 7,01,790 crores.
The West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) that lies largely on the bedrock under the
sea shows signs of decreasing mass. The Totten Glacier, East Antarctica, which
is melting rapidly, possesses enough water to raise sea levels by 3.4 m.
Glaciologists believe that it holds enough water to raise sea levels by 4.8 m.

The land lying within 100m from Chennai's coast may be inundated by 2025 if
sea levels rise by around 7cm due to climate change in these five years. If
emissions are not brought under control and measures are not taken to protect
the coast, then by 2100 localities more than 1km inland from the coast could go
under water as sea level along Chennai may rise by 77.88cm.

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Which areas will be affected the most?

The maximum effect was near Neelankarai and near Adyar river mouth. In
Neelankarai, there is a gentle slope of the land so if the sea levels rise, water will
move inland. Similarly, in Adyar, the river mouth is open and so water can enter
and cover the low-lying areas. Some mild erosion is already seen in these areas,
if the same persists for the next 100 years and the climate is also changing, we
could see inundation up to 350m and the worst-case warming scenario it could
be 1,100m and under moderate warming scenario it may be 500 to 700m of
inundation.

Experts said as oceans warm, the water expands leading to rise in sea level,
which could push seawater into the land inundating portions of the coast. An
analysis of satellite and field data of Chennai's shoreline showed that 36.7% of
the coast is eroding. Researchers said the rough sea already eating into the
coast coupled with a rising sea level will have a cumulative effect of climate
change contributing to inundation.

How rising sea level may skip Chennai’s coastline and drown
the interior areas?
Would you believe Perambur, which is 10km from the coast, can go under
the sea, but Mylapore, which is just 2km away, will not?
Or that Kolathur, Purusaiwalkam and Perungudi will go under, but Adyar
and Thiruvanmiyur may not?

According to a global study by US-based Climate Central, a large swathe of

Chennai city that is away from the coast can face flooding as sea levels rise
because of climate change by 2050. Maps as part of the study show several
inland areas in Chennai in the red zone, while many places on the coast are not.

However, city experts said the risk of flooding of interior areas may not be as
alarming as shown in the study. A scientist from National Centre for Coastal
Research said such studies consider areas below the mean sea level as those
under flood risk. "Coastal flooding is seasonal and can be managed if the
government authorities take appropriate action."

Expert’s opinion:

Architect and urban planner PT Krishnan said, “climate change and mitigation
does not fit into master planning or corporation work, we have to create another
body in between that operates outside standard government processes. We
should bypass the existing system and keep them on an advisory scale, because
they have a lot of important data about the city.”

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5.AIR POLLUTION
5.1.Air pollution can be defined as the presence of toxic chemicals or
compounds (including those of biological origin) in the air, at levels that pose a
health risk. In an even broader sense, air pollution means the presence of
chemicals or compounds in the air which are usually not present, and which
lower the quality of the air or cause detrimental changes to the quality of life (such
as the damaging of the ozone layer or causing global warming).
Air pollution has been associated with humans for millennia, starting with the use
of fire for cooking and warmth. Dangerously high levels of outdoor air pollution
became a problem during the industrial revolution, where the massive use of coal
gave rise to many episodes of serious urban air pollution. Continued reliance on
fossil fuels through the 20th century saw air pollution increase as countries
industrialized. In newly industrialized countries like India, this has led to extreme
air pollution events. However, new forms of cleaner and renewable energy, and
the adoption of air quality regulations and management processes, are reducing
reliance on some polluting fuels and practices.

5.1.1.Major causes of air pollution in Chennai

Polluting industries, dumping yards, construction sites and vehicular traffic are
amongst the largest sources of pollution in Chennai. There have been these
kinds of incidents that caught the attention of people, and these were like an eye-
opener for the people who remained unbothered for a long period of time to react.
Here are few examples of such incidents.

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WASTED: FIRE IN THE PERUNGUDI DUMP YARD

For a metropolis that is still struggling to achieve segregation at source, the

massive fire at the sprawling Perungudi dump yard has exposed the hazards of
retaining legacy waste. The massive fire caused an alarming increase in pollution
levels, giving sleepless nights to thousands of families in the surrounding areas,
including Perungudi, Kallukuttai, Velachery and Taramani. There was a delay in
informing the firemen about the fire, by the time the fire had spread to the core
of the dump yard. The problem was more aggravated by the biomining activities,
and the smoke released was being control.

Residents’ woes:
“The smoke enveloped the area where we live. The air was thick with ash and
smoke. We had suffocation and breathing difficulties,” said A. Ramesh
Manikandan, an advocate who lives at Kandanchavadi.
V. Srinivasan, a resident of Valmiki Nagar, said his house, located five km away,
was affected by the air pollution and smog. “Burnt particulate matter from the
dumpyard was suspended in the air around most of the residential
neighbourhoods in the area over the past few days,” he said.
Raju, a resident of Taramani, said the burning in the dumpyard was a recurring
problem. “There have been instances of fire before, but they were always
ignored. Since it is serious this time, authorities have taken note of it,” he said.

The long struggle:

On October 2, 2004, residents in the southern part of Chennai distributed
pamphlets to mobilise hundreds of people and staged a satyagraha against the
indiscriminate dumping of waste and to save the Pallikaranai wetland. The first
demand is that the State government declare the entire marshland a reserved
forest. However, the Corporation has continued to dump huge quantities of
waste, almost 2,500 tonnes every day, all these years, causing further
deterioration in the condition of the marshland.
The only progressive initiative in the last decade was the handing over of a part
of the marshland on the southern part of the radial road for eco-restoration by
the Forest Department. After almost 430 acres was handed over for eco-
restoration, more than 225 acres is still with the Corporation and used for
dumping of garbage.

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Toxic gases abound:
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), which has been monitoring
pollution levels near the dumpsite, found that levels of PM10 (particulate matter
(dust) of size lesser than 10 microns), had gone up alarmingly when the fire
raged. It, however, came down as the fire was put out. The elemental analysis
of PM 2.5 samples collected at the dumpsite indicated higher concentrations of
certain toxic elements such as arsenic, cadmium, copper, chromium, nickel, lead
and zinc during winter.

VEHICLE FUMES, CONSTRUCTION DUST CAUSE DROP IN

ADYAR AIR QUALITY

Particulate matter has risen almost 40% since 2007, averaging 56.1 in Adyar.
TNPCB performs ambient air quality checks twice a week at Adyar and its official
say rise in vehicle population, commercialization and construction are the main
reasons for the increase. Particulate matter (less than 10 micron) includes
substances like fly ash, cement, dust from bad roads, smoke and soot from vehicles
and pollen.

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People’s woes:
Many residents of Adyar said people were letting out houses for commercial
purposes in places like Kalakshetra colony, leading to congestion and pollution.
“The CMDA rules do not allow commercialization in primary residential areas, but
people do not follow them,” said Shanthi Krishnan, general secretary of Kalakshetra
Colony Welfare Association.
“Construction of restaurants and complexes is increasing in traffic,” said Kamakshi
Subramanian pointing to a restaurant being built on Gandhi Nagar Second Avenue.
The smoke from the chimneys also adds to pollution.

“Trees help trap particulate matter, but most owners of commercial establishments
and buildings cut them down to create more space,” said T D Babu, a marine
biotechnologist and a resident of Shastri Nagar.

“Vehicle congestion and earth excavation are the major reasons for the rise in
particulate matter. We are looking into the problem and will soon take necessary
steps,” said a senior official of TNPCB.

INDUSTRIES VIOLATED AIR POLLUTION NORMS: STUDY

A study by the Chennai Climate Action Group of six large and red-category
polluting industries in the Manali and Ennore regions has revealed that none of
them complied with air pollution norms. These major polluters violated the
prescribed norms for 59% of the year, said the report that analyzed stack
emission data for 2019, obtained from the Care Centre of the Tamil Nadu
Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).
Tangedco’s NCTPS Stage-I operated in violation of the air pollution norms for
58% of the year; NTECL, Vallur, 41% of the year; Madras Fertilizers Limited 77%
of the year; Manali Petrochemicals Ltd. 9% of the year; the Tamilnadu
Petroproducts Ltd. 24% of the year, and Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited
65% of the year, the report stated.
The parameters that were analyzed were for sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen,
ammonia, hydrogen fluoride and carbon monoxide.
People’s and officials’ concerns:
“TNPCB, which has the mandate to prevent and control pollution, is
dysfunctional, and the Greater Chennai Corporation, which has a mandate to
protect public health, is indifferent,” CCAG said.

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Nithyanand Jayaraman, one of the authors of the report, “Poison in the Air: The
Regulatory Black Hole Over Ennore Manali Industrial Zone,” said the issue
should be looked at from a health perspective, and before more planned activities
were permitted, the pollution load had to be brought down.
In the report, Sharadha Narayanan, Kanishk Gokul and Karthik Gunasekar have
urged the government to act against industries for having violated the norms.
They have urged the government to put in place a time-bound plan to make
industries compliant and shut down repeat offenders.
K. Karthikeyan, former member secretary, TNPCB, said the issue of ambient air
quality had to be addressed since aerosols trapped viruses, leading to an
increase in their load.

5.1.2.Is air pollution mainly a local problem or can it travel long

distance?
Air pollution significantly impacts places near its source, but because it can be
carried long distances in the atmosphere, air pollution created in one place, can
also affect faraway places. For example, pollutants that form into fine particulate
matter (PM 2.5 ), persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and ozone (O 3 ) can travel
over hundreds or thousands of kilometers, causing regional and continental
impacts.

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Despite the contribution of long-distance air pollutants to local air pollution,
nearby sources remain a very significant determining factor of local air quality.
Pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) , have
concentration levels which are highest close to their sources (transport, energy
production and industries). Within a city, areas closest to large sources can have
huge pollutant concentrations, while other areas of the same city can be much
cleaner.
Atmospheric conditions, such as wind, affect pollutant dispersion and can vary
widely. Strong winds enable long-distance transport, and stagnant conditions
can lead to a build-up of pollutants. Large cities in subtropical and tropical regions
that have very light winds and many hours of sunshine, experience serious
pollution episodes. Mountains surrounding cities, land-sea breezes and other
local weather conditions can affect the spread of pollutants and influence the
formation of secondary pollutants.

5.1.3.How is air pollution and climate change connected?

Air pollution and climate change are inherently linked. All major air pollutants
have an impact on the climate and most share common sources with greenhouse
gases (GHGs), especially related to the combustion of fossil fuels. They also
aggravate each other in multiple ways. For example, GHGs, such as methane,
contribute to the formation of ground-level-ozone, and levels of ground-level
ozone increase with rising temperatures. Rising temperatures increase the
frequency of wildfires, which in turn further elevate levels of particulate air
pollution.

A group of pollutants, called ‘ Short-Lived Climate Pollutants ’ (SLCPs) which

include black carbon , ozone, methane , and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) , are
highly potent climate forcers and – in the case of ozone and black carbon –
dangerous air pollutants. For example, black carbon reduction measures affect
regional climate change and reduce the rate of near-term global warming. They
also significantly reduce emissions that lead to PM 2.5 , thus benefiting human
health.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that forms ozone in the atmosphere.

Reducing methane is one of the most cost-effective strategies to rapidly reduce
the rate of warming while simultaneously protecting human health and crop
yields. Integrated actions, such as those that target SLCPs can therefore provide
triple-win scenarios, by achieving real-world multiple benefits for human health,
agriculture and the climate.

83
The interlinkages between air pollution and climate change provide an
opportunity to amplify the benefits of our actions and catalyze even greater
mitigation ambition. At the same time not all air pollution reduction strategies are
beneficial for climate and vice versa. Win-win strategies to rapidly reduce
warming, must therefore integrate actions to reduce all air pollutants and
greenhouse gases that contribute to both near- and long-term climate impacts.
This will put the world on a trajectory that maximizes benefits, reduces the risk
of policy failure, and delivers national development priorities.

5.1.4.How is air pollution connected to sustainable

development?

Air pollution is a threat to sustainable development, as it simultaneously affects

various social, environmental and economic criteria linked to equitable human
development, such as good health, food security, gender equality, climate
stability and poverty reduction.

84
Reducing air pollution can helps families become healthier, save on medical
expenses, and improve productivity. Air pollution can cause crop damage and
affect food quality and security. Air pollution poses a major threat to human health.
It is linked to respiratory infections and cardiovascular diseases. It causes
increases in population morbidity and mortality. Pollutants such as sulfur dioxide
(S02) and nitrogen oxides (N02) from open sires and the combustion of fossil
fuels mix with precipitation causing harmful acid rain that can compromise water
quality. Electricity from renewable energy rather than fossil fuels offers significant
public health benefits through a reduction in air pollution. Air pollution impacts on
health, crop and forest yields, ecosystems, the climate and the built environment,
with consequences for productivity and economic growth. Ambient and indoor air
pollution also has negative effects on the working environment and its safety.
Power generation, industry and transportation are large contributions to air
pollution. A new focus on decreasing energy consumption and on improving
sustainable and public transportation could progressively reduce pollution. Urban
areas significantly contribute to air pollution. Making cities sustainable could
progressively improve the air quality. Chemicals released into the air increase air
pollution and contribution to harmful effect on human health. Responsible
production and consumption could help to reduce these harmful chemicals.
Combustion of fossil fuels plays a key role in the process of climate change, which
places food, air, and water supplies at risk, and poses a major threat to human
health. Deposition of air pollutants on water way negatively affect its quality and
life under water. It can lead to eutrophication of freshwater bodies, and
accumulation of toxic metals and Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in fresh
and marine waters.

85
5.1.5.What are the acts to prevent air pollution?

• 1948 – The Factories Act and Amendment in 1987 was the first to express
concern for the working environment of the workers. The amendment of
1987 has sharpened its environmental focus and expanded its application
to hazardous processes.
• 1981 - The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act provides for the
control and abatement of air pollution. It entrusts the power of enforcing
this act to the CPCB .
• 1982 - The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules defines the
procedures of the meetings of the Boards and the powers entrusted to
them.
• 1982 - The Atomic Energy Act deals with the radioactive waste.
• 1987 - The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act
empowers the central and state pollution control boards to meet with
grave emergencies of air pollution.
• 1988 - The Motor Vehicles Act states that all hazardous waste is to be
properly packaged, labelled, and transported.

Opinion
The incidents stated above show the carelessness of both people and the
government. Any negative impact on air has a long-lasting effect and does not
affect only the region but also all its surrounding neighbourhoods. So therefore,
air pollution and air quality are directly or indirectly influencing sustainable
development of people as well as a city. Air pollution corrupts not only the health
of individuals, but also the health of society. So, the standards set by the
government should be strictly followed so that our future generation breathes
more cleaner air.

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5.2.CO2 EMISSION:

How does the building sector contribute to CO2 emission?

The building sector emitted more than a third of global energy-related carbon
dioxide (CO2) — a record 10 gigatonnes (Gt) — in 2019.’
Building operations accounted for 28 per cent global emissions while
construction-related industries (cement, glass, etc) added another 10 per cent,
according to the 2020 Global Status Report for Building and Construction. The
CO2 emissions increased due to a high proportion of fossil fuels used for power
generation, combined with higher activity levels in regions where electricity
remains carbon-intensive, the report said.
Rising emissions in buildings and construction sector emphasise the urgent need
for a triple strategy to aggressively reduce energy demand in the built
environment, decarbonise the power sector and implement materials
strategies that reduce lifecycle carbon emissions.
Carbon footprint - Buildings and their construction together account for 36
percent of global energy use and 39 percent of energy-related carbon dioxide
emissions annually.

Building emissions, as typically measured, are a combination of two things. First

is day-to-day energy use—known as the “operational carbon emissions” that
comes from powering lighting, heating, and cooling. Globally, building operations
account for about 28 percent of emissions annually. Second is the amount of
carbon generated through manufacturing building materials, transporting
materials to construction sites, and the actual construction process—what’s
known as the “embodied carbon of a building,” which accounts for about one
quarter of a building’s total lifecycle carbon emissions. Globally, the embodied
carbon of a building account for about 11 percent of emissions.

Greenhouse gas emission in Chennai:

Chennai is the highest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases among seven
major cities in the country. Chennai emits 4.79 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent
emissions per capita, the highest among Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru,
Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. Chennai also emits the highest carbon
dioxide equivalent per GDP of 2.55 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per lakh
rupees.
The sectors contributing the largest chunk to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
in the city are the domestic and industrial sectors. While the domestic sector is
the highest contributor when the city is considered individually, industrial
emissions are highest in Chennai (4472.35 carbon dioxide equivalent) when
compared to other cities.

87
How can the building sector reduce carbon emissions?

Globally, the energy intensity of the building sector is improving by about 1.5
percent every year; however, the number of buildings is on the rise—global floor
area grows by about 2.3 percent annually—which offsets some of those energy
intensity improvements. Carbon emissions related to buildings are expected to
double by 2050 if action at scale doesn’t occur.

Decarbonization could look like a net-zero building, meaning that it produces

renewable energy onsite and delivers as much energy to the electric grid as it
uses. Taking it one step further is a net-zero carbon building, meaning that it
produces as much power as it consumes annually, and the power comes from
carbon-free renewable energy sources onsite or nearby. A net-zero carbon
building, including embodied carbon, means that the building produces enough
renewable energy to meet operations annually and offset the carbon emitted
from construction.

People’s opinion:
Person 1:
A mall in central Chennai consumes as much as 7,000 units of electricity per
hour. There are several malls eating up energy in this manner. The other
electricity guzzlers are large retail stores which are fully air-conditioned with
innumerable lights. Any huge enterprise is against the environment so we
advocate decentralised small stores that use less energy

Person 2:
Only a very small percentage of green buildings are cropping up in the city.
Creating such buildings to minimise negative impact is easy, but maintaining
them is more important. There is very little effort to change or improve efficiency
of existing buildings.

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6.ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)

EIA as per UNEP: The UNEP defines Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
as a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a
project prior to decision-making.

Aim of EIA: It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project

planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape
projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options
to decision-makers.

There are four key factors of environmental impact assessment. These are as
follows

1. Strategic EIA
2. Regional EIA.
3. Sectorial EIA
4. Project Level EIA

History: The need first arose in 1976-77 when the Planning Commission asked
the Department of Science and Technology to examine the river-valley projects
from an environmental angle.

Statute: The Environment Impact Assessment in India is statutorily backed by

the Environment Protection Act, 1986 which contains various provisions on EIA
methodology and process.

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90
AMENDMENTS OF 2006 VS 2020

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 As Albert Einstein observed,
"Problems cannot be solved with the same mindset that created them.”

Unfortunately, Chennai is still stuck with technocentric mindset. There has to be a

paradigm shift from technocentrism to ecocentrism from a pure engineering solutions
to predominantly nature based solutions.

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kodungaiyur-fire-source-segregation-40678
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/industries-violated-air-
pollution-norms-study/article33054356.ece

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