How is the TN government reviving mangroves in the polluted Ennore estuary?

Chennai, June 25 (NationPress) In a bold initiative aimed at rejuvenating the delicate ecosystem of the Ennore estuary, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has excavated a series of freshwater ponds spanning 230 hectares to facilitate the growth of mangroves, amidst ongoing pollution from industrial waste and thermal power plant discharges.

The Ennore estuary and the neighboring Kosasthalaiyar River have been adversely affected by chemical pollutants and thermal discharges, significantly due to the release of heated coolant from the TANGEDCO thermal power facility. In response to this environmental crisis, the Forest Department has launched a mangrove restoration initiative employing a water-retention strategy to tackle the challenges posed by a polluted estuarine ecosystem.

As noted by Environment Secretary Supriya Sahu, each of the twelve ponds is four meters deep and has been strategically placed on dry land in several locations where tidal water alone cannot provide sufficient nourishment for mangrove roots. “These ponds store fresh water and are designed to incorporate tidal inflow as well. In many of the dry island zones near Ennore, the roots of mangroves were unable to access adequate water. This intervention is intended to mitigate that problem,” she elaborated.

The department has successfully planted approximately 1.6 lakh mangrove seedlings alongside another two lakh associate species such as Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, and Excoecaria agallocha. The ponds are expected to not only aid in root development but also enhance fish breeding and bolster aquatic biodiversity.

The restoration project encompasses nine villages, including Puzhuthivakkam, Katupalli, and Edayanchavadi, where various planting methodologies—like the fishbone and linear techniques—were employed based on thorough soil and water assessments.

Sahu mentioned that roughly 32,000 mangrove seedlings and 40,000 associate plants are being cultivated to replace those lost during last year’s southwest monsoon. Nonetheless, despite the government's ecological initiatives, local fishermen report that pollution continues to be a significant issue.

Fisherfolk from Kattukuppam, a prominent fishing village in Ennore, claim that industries persist in discharging untreated waste, including oil and petroleum residues, into the river.

Activists have echoed these sentiments, urging for stricter enforcement of pollution regulations and real-time monitoring of industrial effluent release.

The Ennore creek area, known for its biodiversity and vital to local livelihoods, has been under environmental duress for over two decades due to the unchecked expansion of thermal power stations, petrochemical industries, and ports.

While the state’s initiative is being praised as a scientifically valid approach to mangrove restoration, experts caution that without curtailing ongoing pollution and regulating industrial practices, these restoration efforts may not be sustainable over time.

The Forest Department has pledged to maintain weekly monitoring of the saplings and the water quality in the newly established ponds. “This is not a one-off intervention. It is a long-term ecological commitment,” stated an official overseeing the project.