Smelly Adyar creek gets green makeover.

Sludge- and sewage-filled Adyar creek, an eyesore a few years ago, is now a beautiful waterbody where a good mangrove patch has regenerated.

The government undertook restoration of the waterbody in order to allow a diverse range of species to make the creek their home.

Nearly five years ago, the government had ordered restoration of the ecosystem and development of an ecological park on 58 acres of the creek. The work began with the plugging of drains through which raw and untreated sewage was let into the creek. A trust was formed and with the help of both the Corporation and Metrowater, the sewage was diverted.

Phase one of the programme, named 'Adyar Poonga', involved restoring a section of an inland waterway coming from the Adyar estuary, curving its way along Quibble Island, up to Greenways Road. Excess water would flow into the estuary.

After plugging sewage inflow, authorities took up the work of planting tropical dry evergreen plant species. Systematic monitoring and garbage-free maintenance of the area has resulted in attracting 100 species of birds, 15 species of mammals, 55 species of butterflies, besides insects, reptiles and fishes.

The area once served as a reservoir for tidal water during high tide. But for years, the creek has been used for disposing of sewage and solid waste.

The Adyar creek area begins near Chettinad Palace and extends northward into the mainland. It takes a U-turn at Foreshore Estate and ends at Mandavelippakkam.

Restoring the degraded area, improving coastal ecology of the creek, rehabilitating the watershed of the creek with minimum human interference, and introducing environmental education were the main objectives of the restoration programme, said Poonga authorities.


THE HINDU