UnderTheMuttukaduBridge

Sundara Gopal, the District Environmental Engineer of Kancheepuram

2006-04-02T13:52:00.001-07:00

Sundara Gopal has held the position of the District Environmental Engineer (DEE) of Kancheepuram for the past four months. Before this, Mr Kamaraj held this position. Previously he was posted in Tirupoor, Coimbatore, in the same position.

As the district is divided into five zones, the DEE of Kancheepuram is supported by five Assistant Engineers (AE). Senthil Kumar is the AE in charge of Muttukadu and its surrounding areas. The DEE reports to the head office of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in Guindy.

After over a month seeking official permission, Digantik confronted the DEE on the topic of pollution in the Muttukadu Estuary.

Do you conduct regular water tests of water bodies in your district?
Yes once in three months.

Where and when did you conduct your last tests?
I will check up and tell you. When I was the DE in Chennai in 1991 to 95 we used to test the Cooum and Adyar River.

Is it mandatory to periodically test the water bodies?
No it is not.

Are you aware of the fish kill that occurred in the Muttukadu estuary in August 2003? How could such an incident have happened?
I have no idea of such an incident. But there could be various reasons for such a thing. For example in Salem there was one such fish kill. It was an issue of rivalry between two fishing communities, where one group had poisoned the water to punish the other. This usually happens on some personal grounds, when someone wants to take revenge.

There is a Tamil Nadu Tourism Department boathouse operating in that area that has a reputation of polluting the water. What can be done about it? Do you have the power to close down a government-run facility?
I have not received nor have had any complaints passed on to me on this matter, over the past four months that I have been here. And I also do not have the power to shut down any establishment. My job is to inspect whether a company is following the pollution norms and report it with a recommendation.

Sir, the Green Coconut Resorts have had a history with the PCB. They come under your jurisdiction. What can you tell me about their position now?
I do not know, but I will check it up.

If you were to test the Muttukadu Estuary, how would you go about it?
We will send an AE, or I myself will go and check the area. Then we will take samples from many places. The number of samples depends on the conditions of the location. On an average, four or five samples will be collected.

We will then check if it is a sewage or industrial pollutant. If it is sewage then we know that it is definitely from that area only. If it is an industry, we will corner that industry.

How will you corner an industry?
It is difficult to do that. We will first issue a warning to all the industries in the area. Then, lets say an electroplating industry is responsible, we will find Chromium or Nickel in the water.

After looking through the files you keep on companies it seems that almost none let out any effluents. How is this possible?
All the industries have to recycle all their water. Tamil Nadu has taken a first of its kind step in India. All the water is recycled through the reverse osmosis process. After reuse, water loss occurs only due to evaporation. We can reuse between 95 and 98 percent of the water. Only two to five percent of the water is reject water. This is concentrated waste that is stored as hazardous waste (salts) on the factory premises. This is the rule laid down by the government. Besides, there are no hazardous industries in the Kancheepuram district unlike in Thiruvaloor, where there are many.

Jacob Cherian

Interview with environmental expert, Dr Swaminathan

2006-04-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

Digantik submitted two composite water samples from the Muttukadu estuary to a laboratory on 25 March to conduct tests for water pollution. The lab is accredited under ISO / IEC 17025 by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) for chemical, biological and mechanical testing and requested anonymity.

The seven samples: One each from the outlets of two industries – Indo metal Press and Victoria Foods, and the inlet for a seasonal fish farm. One from the middle of the estuary, one from three feet below the surface of the estuary, BC and under the Muttukadu bridge.

The lab conducted a Core Parameter Test on the first composite sample, which was a mixture of equal proportions of all the seven separate samples. A core parameter confirms whether the seven parameters set by the Central PCB of India are within the prescribed norms.

The seven parameters are – pH, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), chlorides, sulphates, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and oils and grease. After observing effervescence while collecting samples on the night sampling expedition, a test for phosphates was added to the list.

The results showed that all the above parameters were within the CPCB’s norms.

The second was a heavy metals test for Lead, Nickel and Cadmium and was conducted after Digantik found out the raw materials and processes used in some of the factories the samples were collected from.

All these also fell within the acceptable range set by the CPCB.

But, it did not pass the CPCB norms for primary water quality criteria for Class S W II, i.e. for bathing, contact water sports and commercial fishing specifies that ‘Floating matter – nothing obnoxious (smelling) or detrimental for use purpose.’

Lab technicians and Dr. Swaminathan agreed that the froth Digantik observed didn’t clear this norm.

Digantik then consulted the expertise of environmental scientist and expert Dr. Swaminathan, to help unpack the test results.

You saw Digantik’s photographs of the frothy bubble formation in the estuary. Your comments.

Unless there is some external input, the froth will not be present.

What do you think is the cause for this?

It could be due to chemicals or biochemicals, like heavy metals. A detailed investigation is necessary. You need conduct it throughout the year because of seasonal variations like market demands and tides.

The estuary fishermen complain that the fish there stink of kerosene. Your comments?

This is very difficult to assess, as odour is an individual perception and there are only a few exceptions to this like petroleum solvents. It could be due to adulterated diesel also.

What effect do these oils have on the water and the life in it?

It forms a coating on the surface, which decrease the water’s oxygen levels. The fish could also be swallowing the oil.

Digantik observed that the estuary fishes jumping out of the water. What does this mean?

It is a good indication of depleted oxygen levels.

Lab reports show that the Demand Oxygen (DO) level is about four milligrams. Your comments?

Even with a DO greater than five (norm is five to seven) fish kills can occur. So, the fish kills you mentioned before is due to some other pollutant. It will take six months to a year to pinpoint the cause. And it will cost more than ten lakhs because of the very complicated sampling process required.

Ridhi D'Cruz

Mr. D. Manikandan , a freelance journalist and friend of the fisherman

2006-04-02T13:49:00.001-07:00

Digantik interviewed D. Manikandan, a journalist who has been freelancing with leading Tamil dailies, for a decade now. For the past six years, he has been residing in Injambakkam, a village along the ECR, and reporting on various social issues from there. He has written on pieces on the role of banks in the development of SHGs and the illegal occupation of Government lands along the ECR, by politicians of various political parties.

What do you think causes the most pollution in these villages?

Fishermen say that prawn culture is the main contributor to water pollution here, because there is no government restriction.

What are the main reasons for the problems that fishermen face today, in your opinion?

Their techniques are very bad. They follow very traditional methods, owing to which they cannot get a very good catch. The second reason is that they are unorganized.

Earlier you had mentioned that there are more than a thousand Self Help Groups (SHGs) between Thiruvanmiyur and Kovalam. How effective are they?

SHGs are not too effective because they are usually formed in haste. Some women come together to form a SHG, but they can’t last due to the lack of planning. They do not conduct the weekly meetings they are supposed to. They don’t keep proper accounts. This leads to a lot of misunderstanding between the women. I have come across many instances like this.

Do you think that one of the ways to accelerate the conception of solutions is collectivization of the fishermen?

Yes. The people who depend on the fishing industry should form a forum to represent different kuppams (fishing villages).

What about the Panchayat heads?

They only do Panchayat work not people work. They stopped fishing so they cannot understand the problems faced by fishermen. And (laughing), they are well to do.

Are the Panchayats a hindrance to the process of collectivization?

Yes. They dont allow the fishermen to form a collective on their own. They (Panchayats) keep the fishermen under control, politically and socially.

But aren’t the Panchayats supposed to represent the people and serve as links between the common man and the higher authorities?

They are not good representatives. They talk only in terms of (laughing) money. They are not really interested in the welfare of the people.

Do you think that the fishermen are fairly represented politically?

No. Not even one fisherman that I know of has become an MLA. Only the Minister for Law and Information Technology, D. Jayakumar is a fisherman. He keeps in direct contact with the fisherman and this is what they want. He goes to all the hamlets to get votes. Among the fishermen, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has got a fair chance against the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam). This is because the DMK doesn’t go and directly talk to them.

But don’t the fishermen comprise a major vote-bank in Tamil Nadu?

Yes. The Fisheries Department claim that there are about 50-lakh fishermen in the whole of Tamil Nadu. The political party that spends more at the time of the elections can get more votes because they want direct benefits.

What about the role of NGOs in these areas?

NGOs play a vital role in the day-to-day life of fishermen, especially during the tsunami. (Laughing) They do more than 100 percent of what the government does.

Can you explain a bit about the caste system in these villages… like the difference between the canal and sea fishermen, the Chembadavers and Meenavers?

Nowadays there is no discrimination. The divide is between the poor and the rich. (Laughing) These are the only two classes. Here, people are exploited even though they are of higher caste. Everything is based on money.

Ridhi D'Cruz
Jacob Cherian

Solution will cost over ten lakhs: Expert environmental scientist

2006-04-02T13:49:00.000-07:00

Dr. Swaminathan is an environmental scientist who freelances as an expert consultant. He is also part of the 2004 Supreme Court appointed Monitoring Committee for Solid Waste Management. He spoke to Digantik about solutions to problems of pollution and waste management.

When you said earlier, ‘for every solution, there is a problem,’ what did you mean?

There is no problem, to be frank. It means, whether it is private, official or personal, there is a solution which maybe cost effective or not. To achieve low water, air and noise pollution, there are very stringent norms in place. The manufacturer has to pay a lot to keep the environment clean. So, when we buy the product, even we pay a lot for this.

I do not believe that 100 percent pure environmental conditions are possible beyond a certain limit.

How viable are treatment plants?

To administer pollution control methods through treatment plants, a capital cost of up to five percent of the total cost is viable. For major industries it is easy. This is what we call soft industries.

Then what solution can be used for smaller industries?

Smaller industries don’t have the resources or the space. That’s why Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) have become mandatory. There are about 25 – 30 CETPs in Tamil Nadu (TN). For the bleaching and dyeing units in Tirupoor (j) and Karur, there are about 20 CETPs because the textile industry is highly polluting.

In Chennai, there is one CETP at Pallavaram, for the leather industry.

When was the idea for CETPs proposed and implemented?

In 1970, I initiated this plan, but only in 1990, the Supreme Court directed leather industries to install CETPs.

On numerous occasions you have worked with both the Central PCB and the TNPCB. Are they effective bodies?

Yes. But you have to take into consideration the massive number of industries involved. Especially in the recent few years, the High Court (HC) and Supreme Court (SC) have been very active. There is no problem. In TN, for the past four months, they have made it mandatory for all industries to have zero discharge of wastewater.

But what about the five percent concentrated waste that cannot be recycled and reused?

This is converted into salt. We do not know how to dispose of this yet. Probably the salt will be taken in barrages and disposed at sea. That is the only solution.

Can you tell me about the SC Monitoring Committee for Solid Waste Management that you are a part of?

The Supreme Court of India appointed this body, late in 2003 and its current chairman is Dr. Thiagaraj. It is primarily concerned with monitoring Solid Waste Management, but it also looks into water and air pollution. It conducts inspections to review industries and even recommends and records PCB activities.

This committee is very powerful. It doesn’t have to issue a notice to the industry even. No one can question it because the apex court appointed it. It can even disband a state’s PCB if it finds it necessary. This happened in 2004 with the Kerala PCB.

An industry can be fined up to 50 lakhs. They have a bank guarantee for a certain amount, which they have to forfeit if they do not comply with the monitoring committee’s instructions within two months. The committee can even order the closure of non-complying industries.

Can you tell me more about the nature of instructions that the committee gives?

This is confidential. In the case of the French asbestos-laden ship - Clemenceau, two people within the committee were against its coming to India.

About the pollution Digantik found in the Muttukadu estuary, what can be done about it?

There is a need to quantify the total pollution load. You have identified three possible pollutants – sewage from the BC, oil spillages from the TTDC boathouse and factories along the banks of the estuary. But unless we determine the percentages that each agent contributes, there is no point.

What if the BC contributes 60 percent of the total pollution load? Then there’s no point in enforcing strict action on factories that might be contributing only 15 percent.

Unless we clean up the BC, there is no point.

But wouldn’t this be a Herculean task as the BC extends over 420 kilometers?

We did it for the Ganga through the Ganga Action Plan. The Central government has given about 100 crores to the TN government to conduct investigations on ABC – the Adyar river, the Buckingham canal and the Cooum river. Anna University and some others are working on it. If done systematically, within three to four years, the BC can be cleaned up.

Who else is involved in the BC investigation?

I am not sure because there is no one to supervise the State Government. This is a problem, because the funds for research and investigation are only given to academia, when practically inclined people like myself should be involved. In my field - Applied Research, you know what is what. That may not always be the case with academia.

But if you are part of the committee that recommended the investigations in the first place, shouldn’t you be allowed to also carry them out?

When they want me, they put me on the panel of experts. But when I submit my report for investigations, they say that I am not an expert.

Won’t this compromise the quality of the investigation?

There should be a task force set up to review the investigation. The problem is that the Universities’ report is accepted in toto even, thought the people there have no experience. This is because they are institutions approved by the government.

Mr. Rayadu the Director of the TNPCB said that it is very hard to keep track of small industries that operate out of their houses, because they avoid being registered by the Industries Department by claiming to be only domestic in nature. Rajesh Rangarajan from Toxicslinks agreed to this. What would be the solution to this problem?

There are many loopholes and grey areas. You can’t expect the PCB to monitor these unregistered units. The Board can’t enter places like Dharavi, Mumbai and take action because of underworld connections.

Ridhi D'Cruz

Lack of organization and proactivity takes its toll

2006-04-02T13:47:00.000-07:00

Fishermen recounted the fish kill of August 2003 when thousands of dead fish were found floating on the surface of the Muttukadu Estuary. Dr Nataraj, a scientist based in Muttukadu, with the Central Institute of Brackish Water and Aquaculture (CIBA), said that when this happened, he and his colleagues collected samples and tested them. He refused to disclose the results without the permission of the Director of CIBA.

The Director of CIBA, Dr Ravichandran denied Digantik any access to the relevant reports but stated in a letter, that it was because of low Dissolved Oxygen (DO) in the water. He attributed this to the stratification of water when the mouth of the estuary closes for a few months every year. Another possible reason he gave was that natural algal bloom could have consumed most of the oxygen, there by suffocating the fish.

To this, Dr Swaminathan, an environmental scientist agreed that low dissolved oxygen could be a result of the lack of photosynthesizing bacteria in the water. But he also said that some bacteria feed off pollutants, therefore an unnatural excess of such bacteria could also be the case. He explained that at night, like all plants, these bacteria consume oxygen.

Harry Andrews of Croc Bank simplified the cause when he said that the fish kill could have occurred because of the overheating of the shallow water by the sun. D Shankaran, a fisherman that works at the TTDC boathouse, said that this actually did happen once a long time ago when the Kelambakkam salt pans had sucked out too much water from the estuary.

CIBA claimed no responsibility for testing the estuary and said that it was the PCB’s business. Dr Ravichandran had also said that they had carried out the test simply out of scientific interest. In a letter to Digantik, he also stated that no toxic substances were found in the water and that all other parameters, except for DO, were well within the level required for survival of fish.

The PCB District Environmental Engineer, Sundara Gopal who has held his post for four months had said that they test all the water bodies in his jurisdiction every three months. When asked if he tested the Muttukadu Estuary he said he was not sure.

D Manikandan a freelance journalist cited the lack of organisation among the fishermen as the primary cause for the failures of their past complaints. Muthuveli, a senior retired fisherman recalled that in 1996 and 2000, the fishermen got together and approached the then managers of the boathouse. Their reason, tourist boating and fishing could not co-exist. In 2000, a make shift arrangement was eventually made.

It must be kept in mind that not all fishermen depend on this water body. Shivalingam a fisherman explained that the Chembadavars are the lower caste among the fishing community and are therefore not allowed to fish at sea. D Manikandan joked that it is a complicated superiority complex. The sea fishermen, the Meenavers, have the option to choose where they want to fish. Shivalingam said that he would fish in the backwaters if the sea was too rough or if he just did not feel like going out to sea.

As the more financially stable fishing communities do not have to worry about the loss of a hunting ground, the Chembadavars are left by themselves to deal with this problem. Digantik did not uncover a single NGO working specifically with this community. There is a dire need in this area to mobilize action.

Jacob Cherian

Temporary fixes postpone solutions

2006-04-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

On April 12, 2004, Pollution Control Board (PCB) officials made a surprise visit to The Green Coconut Resorts and discovered a laundry service in place that let out the used water into the Buckingham Canal that runs beside it. They ordered the resort to shut down the laundry service until an effluent disposal plant was put into place.

Locals and resident organisations like East Coast Citizen’s Organisation (ECCO), have been battling resorts like Green Coconut and MGM on the grounds of noise pollution besides waste management.

Muthuveli, a senior retired fisherman said that in 1996 and in 2000, the fishermen got together and approached the then managers of the boathouse. Their reason, tourist boating and fishing could not co-exist.

The manager, true to most hierarchal structures, said that nothing could be done as the tourism department ran the boathouse. A complaint letter was sent to the tourism department and that was the last of the fishermen’s initiative to solve the problem. However a reasonable arrangement was reached between the boathouse manager and the fisher folk.

The fishermen could work there throughout the day on all weekdays. But on the weekend, they can cast their nets only after five in the evening. When asked what would happen if the fishermen did break the deal, Muthuveli said that then motorboats would then be driven through the nets, thereby destroying them.

D Shankaran, a fisherman that also works at the TTDC boathouse said in the summers when the mouth of the estuary closes, the Buckingham Canal (BC) that lies north of the estuary and the estuary itself begins to smell bad as the water has begun to stagnate. The residents along the BC collectively pay the fishermen of Kovalam to reopen the mouth. He said that it takes 75 men two hours and Rs 50 each to rearrange the geography of the area. Once opened the tides come in and replaces the water clearing out the BC in the bargain.

Jacob Cherian

Effluents and oil ‘irritate’ fishermen

2006-04-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

S. Thanikachalam, ex- Panchayat president of a village also along the ECR-Injambakkam, is a wealthy man who fishes in the Buckingham canal. He said, “ We get skin irritation. We come back home and put water and oil on it. The irritation stays for an hour.”

After this, he said that he visits the local doctor, Balaji, who, after giving him a tetanus shot and anti-histamines, asks him why he continues to go into the BC’s dirty waters.

It is so filthy and teeming with mosquitoes and leeches, that Thanikachalam admitted he could not even sit there. He said that because it smelled like a drain, he couldn’t fish there anymore. Even boat traffic on the canal had stopped as a result, he added.

“The fishes have a lot of skin diseases. The ‘kuruvai and veraal’ type of fish are the most effected by the pollutants,” he said. M.N Panichelvam, another BC fisherman later said that near the companies, there was a lot of dirty mud ‘Ser’ which turned his legs black.

Thanikachalam said that he did not eat his own catch and eats only fish caught in the sea. He chuckled while adding that, so far, there were no complaints as mainly city folk bought his catch.

He added that during the rainy season, the canal is cleaner and even prawns abound. But, “now you can’t go without closing your nose.” So, he fishes in the canal, whenever it rains.

Shivalingam, a Panchayat leader, is a fisherman. He said that canal fishermen are more prone to skin diseases because they stand in the water while fishing. He added that the “big” sea fishermen 'Meenaver,’ didn’t have a problem because they stood on their catamarans.

D. Shankaran, a BC fisherman who works over the weekend at the TTDC boathouse pointed out that with the annual closing of the estuary mouth, the slums along the canal get flooded. The people living there pay 75 TTDC staff and some others, Rs 50 per head to about to have it reopened. The process takes about two hours, he continued.

He added that when the mouth had closed the previous year, the salt companies sucked out water, decreasing the water level so much, that the fish died because of the excessive heat.

Friend and neighbour of Kovalam fisherman Hyath Basha, Rafiq Silarsa, later attributed this fish kill to the dirty water discharged by mainly stone factories. The bad effects, he said, could only be seen when the mouth closed. But the companies and the boathouse are always polluting the water. He added that the skin irritation was worst near the companies and when the estuary mouth closes.

Muthuveli, a sixty-year-old retired sea fisherman said that fish are born and continue to subsist in the polluted canal and estuary water (j’s cause), imbibe pollutants into their flesh. He pointed out that the ‘Madevel,’ a long fish, when caught in the estuary, couldn’t be consumed even now because of the kerosene smell. But when caught in the sea, he added, they were edible.

He admitted that estuary fishing is less strenuous work than seawater fishing. But even after fishing at sea, he enacted how customers have reacted in the past - “I bought from you yesterday and the fish smelled of kerosene. I don’t want to buy from you.” Things worsen during the rains, he added. For two days, there is no work because all the dirt comes in then.”

The ex-fisherman, who has been leasing chairs and tables for weddings for the past ten years, continued. “Maybe those fish were thrown on the banks because they stink of kerosene. We have to sell our catch for Rs 20 to 30 when they stink, while we can get Rs 50 if they are clean.”

Ridhi Dcruz

Four probable polluters identified

2006-04-02T13:40:00.000-07:00

The search for who is responsible for polluting the Muttukadu estuary turned up four players.

The factories that line the western bank of the East coast canal exhibited various methods of waste disposal. However their respective files at the Pollution Control Board (PCB) show that all the concerned factories recycled all their waste effluents. Sundara Gopal the District Environmental Engineer of Kancheepuram explained that Tamil Nadu has enforced a rule that no hazardous materials are allowed to be disposed outside the factory’s premises.

However on field investigations, Digantik discovered concentrations of unnatural froth in front of the factories. Similar froth was observed at various other points of the estuary. It must be noted that the froth was also found north of the industrial zone towards the point were the Buckingham Canal (BC) first touches the East Coast Canal (ECC).

Dr Swaminathan, an environmental scientist, said that heavy metal effluents could be a direct or an indirect cause for this froth. He explained that since pollutants choke the oxygen supply of microorganisms close to the bottom of the water body, some die and release gases, thereby forming bubbles.

Even though the BC empties itself into the estuary before it continues southward, it is among the least contributors of pollutants to the Muttukadu estuary. Less than a kilometer away, south of the Thiruvanmiyur overhead station is Perungundi.

Here stand the remains of a narrow wooden bridge. All that can be seen now, is the skeletal remains of its support pillars. These stilts were the starting point for a half kilometer stretch of water hyacinths that extend towards the estuary.

Observing the health of random samples of hyacinth from both ends of the stretch was a visible indication of the existing pollution in the BC. After the BC meets and leaves the hyacinth stretch, it continues on its path southward, to meet the East Coast Canal and towards the Muttukadu estuary.

This hyacinth speed breaker acted like an efficient natural filter for the BC water before the canal pours into the estuary. Almost all of the discernable sewage was cleaned out of the water at that point. After this stretch, the canal water was visibly cleaner for approximately the next seven kilometers, until the industrial zone in Egattur and Kazhipathur, which lies on the western bank of the East Coast Canal.

On the Eastern Bank of the ECC and BC is an establishment that has had an active history with the PCB, the Green Coconut Resorts. However, Digantik had observed washing discharge that smelled of phenol being released into the canal in mid February, 2006 from The Green Coconut

The slum settlers along the ECC and the BC contribute to the pollution on a daily basis as this region of the state lacks a drainage system. The middle level income groups can afford the use of tankers to empty their septic tanks. Thanikachallam, a canal fisherman and a former panchayat head of Injambakkam, that sits on the banks of the BC within Chennai city limits said that he has witnessed septic tankers come and dump the waste from the bridges the connect Old Mahabalipuram Road and East Coast Road.

The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) seems to be an obvious polluter of the estuary. All the fishermen interviewed, blamed the boathouse for dumping oil and grease into the estuary. They said that the waste from cleaning the engines and the leakage of kerosene from the fuel tanks caused the fish to smell of kerosene. As a result, they had lost many customers.

Muthuvelli, a retired fisherman said that when a fish goes through its entire life cycle in polluted water, the pollutant gets embedded in its flesh. D Shankaran, a canal fisherman who works at the TTDC over the weekend, said “Now it is ok, but when the mouth closes even we can’t eat the fish as it smells of kerosene.”

Jacob Cherian

Froth, dead fish suggest pollution in Muttukadu estuary

2006-04-02T13:34:00.000-07:00

On March 25th, 2006, while on a water-sampling expedition at two am, Digantik found an unnatural amount of bubbles and an oily smell, in certain areas in the Muttukadu estuary and the East Coast Canal (ECC). These appeared extensively in front of factories set up on the western bank of the ECC.

Digantik had spotted similar bubbles on other occasions as well. In fact, this investigation into water pollution in the Muttukadu estuary, started after accidentally discovering bubbles under the Muttukadu bridge. The aim - uncover the cause for these obviously unnatural bubbles.

On December 3rd, 2005, Digantik stumbled upon patches of froth, the largest being three feet of foamy, semi-solid bubbles that lined the shore, under the Muttukadu bridge. Some of the local canal fishermen, ‘Chembadaver,’ later said that these were caused naturally, like those formed in sea-waves.

But repeated visits revealed a trend. The amount of bubbles was highest during the withdrawal of high tide and found only in the second half of the week. Young activists Shwetha Narayan and Dharmesh Shah, with the group We Feel Responsible (WFR) said that they had observed similar patterns among other polluting industries they had investigated.

Rajesh Rangarajan, regional coordinator of the Consumer Action Group (CAG) run programme, Toxicslink, affirmed that this was a common practice among industries.

Also, there were no waves in the almost still waters of the estuary.
Therefore, these bubbles were no sea froth. An experienced sea fisherman from the neighbouring Kovalam village, Hyath Basha, confirmed that these bubbles were undoubtedly different and argued that they were unnatural.

On numerous field trips to the area, similar bubbles were found in large quantities in front of the factories Chettinad Silica, Chettinad Granites, Chettinad Minerals, Victoria Foods, Indo Metal Press, Srinar Eleectronics and GM Pens.

Kovalam fisherman, Hyath Basha even reported that the estuary water turned completely black in the first week of February 2006. Field investigations on March 26th, 2006, revealed a probable correlation with the black sooty layer of soil seen in front of the sewer between Indo Metal Press and Victoria Foods.

M.N Panichelvam, a Buckingham Canal (BC) fisherman later said that near the companies, there was a lot of dirty mud, ‘Ser’ which turned his legs black.

Just beside the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) boat house; the BC rejoins the estuary, after running parallel to the East Coast Canal (ECC) for many kilometers. On Dec 19th, startling quantities of similar bubbles were found near this meeting point of the two water bodies.

Another mysterious catalyst to the investigation was the discovery of numerous dead fish under the bridge, as well as along the canal. Since some of these dead fish were fairly large, they couldn’t have been discarded simply because they were too small to be sold in fish markets.

Then were they thrown there because they were dead before they were caught? Some fishermen reported that the fish in the water surrounding the TTDC, smelt of kerosene.

Further unearthing revealed a major fish kill in August 2003. But Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) red tape and the lack of scientific awareness of the locals prevented an identification of the cause.

Interactions with the locals, laboratory experts and environmental scientist Dr. R. Swaminathan helped identify four major causes for possible pollution in the Muttukadu estuary.

Ridhi D'Cruz

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