NGT seeks clarity from T.N. govt. on sand dumping along the Adyar near Thiru. Vi. Ka. Bridge’s eastern side

The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal has directed the Water Resources Department (WRD) and the State Highways Department to submit separate reports explaining the reasons behind sand dumping along the northern bank of the Adyar near the eastern side of Thiru. Vi. Ka. Bridge.

The direction was issued during a recent hearing in a case filed by the Ramaniyam Towers Residents’ Association. The matter was originally filed in the Madras High Court as a writ petition and was later transferred to the Bench.

The residents’ association has alleged that sand was being dumped under the pretext of strengthening the river bund, but in reality, it was being done to facilitate the construction of a proposed link road. The road is meant to connect Greenways Road with Durgabhai Deshmukh Road via the Tamil Nadu Music College campus.

While the State government claims that the road is essential for easing traffic congestion in the area, the applicant argues that a portion of the proposed route falls within a Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), where construction is restricted to protect the environment.

The Bench, comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati, said the Madras High Court had earlier ordered status quo on the CRZ stretch, and this order would continue to remain in effect. At the same time, it clarified that the government was free to carry on with other parts of the road project that did not fall within the CRZ or on the disputed riverbank area.

The Bench also asked the State Highways Department to examine the possibility of realigning the road through the premises of Dr. M.G.R. Janaki College of Arts and Science. It observed that if the road was built entirely within the college compound, the residents would likely have no further objections.

The WRD has also been asked to clearly state whether the sand dumping was being done solely for strengthening the river bund or if it also serves the road construction. Until this is explained, no work can be carried out on the affected stretch along the river, the Bench added, and posted the matter for further hearing on July 30.