Tamil Nadu

Maharashtra wetlands face threat
News this week Posted on 01 Aug, 2017 01:49 PM

Illegal slums on Maharashtra mudflats cause loss to state

Sewri mudflts in Mumbai (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
At home, in the wetland
Not just a site of global importance for migratory birds, Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary is home to diverse creatures that depend on it for food, shelter and livelihood. Posted on 10 Nov, 2016 10:01 PM

Long necked, rosy white birds with heavy pink bills stand etched across the horizon. These are the flamingos that fly miles from across Iran’s Caspian Sea and the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, to reach the inland waters of Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.

Flamingoes fly miles to reach Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu.
Courting catastrophe: Unplanned urbanisation and flooding
Urban floods and pervasive environmental pollution are living testimonies of unplanned and hurried urbanisation. With cities already stretched to their limits, how much more can they endure? Posted on 21 Mar, 2016 08:40 AM

South India's rivers are rain-fed unlike those in the North, which are glacier-fed due to the contrasting topography and climate. Unlike the Himalayan system, many of India’s peninsular rivers dry up during the hotter half of the year, leaving lips and fields equally parched.

Houses constructed on the fringes of the Ambattur eri in Chennai
Irumbuliyur Lake explains sudden floods in Chennai
Urban planners have forgotten that lakes and waterways can only be altered by giving appropriate alternative means of storage and drainage. These water bodies must be revived. Posted on 17 Dec, 2015 02:51 PM

The December 2015 rains in Tamil Nadu caused Chennai and its adjoining areas to be suddenly flooded. Huge portions of residential areas and roads were inundated for long periods of time. The rivers too flooded in an unprecedented manner, causing human loss and property damage to individuals, state and corporates.

Irumbuliyur lake outlet from where entire rain water is expected to be drained (Source: P Sakthivel)
Braving the deluge: Chennai's worst December
Chennai's limp back to normalcy will be slow and painful, especially for low-lying Velachery, Urapakkam, Kotturpuram and Saidapet which remain flooded even two days after the rain has let up. Posted on 05 Dec, 2015 02:39 PM

Residents were convinced that November was the worst but stock taking and rehabilitation had to wait a week longer as the maniacal rains of December took everyone by surprise and completely crippled the city. According the

Rescue efforts underway in Kotturpuram, one of the Chennai's worst affected areas
Chennai's disappearing 'Kazhiveli'
The swampy area of Pallikaranai, 20 km away from Chennai, has reduced from 5000 to 500 hectares in about 40 years. Despite it being made a partial Reserve Forest, it is under threat of dying out. Posted on 16 Sep, 2013 12:37 AM

The term wetland is a bit difficult to understand. Is it land or water or land that is wet? It is likely this difficulty in comprehending the term that has led to the sad state of affairs for most wetlands in the country today.

Kazhiveli' of Pallikaranai near Chennai
Workshop report: “Evaluating the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and preparing for the future”, organised by Transparent Chennai on 2 December 2012 at Chennai
Transparent Chennai, an action research group works on creating and disseminating data on civic issues in Chennai. With an aim to do research that can inform practice, the group believes in bringing change in some form in the ground. The focus of research are as follows: city governance, elected representatives, heritage, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), public civic spaces, public toilets and sanitation, road transport and public transport, slums and informal settlements and water. Posted on 31 Dec, 2012 08:45 PM

Transparent Chennai had organised a workshop on “Evaluating the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and preparing for the future” on December 2, 2012 at Dakshinamurthy Auditorium in PS Higher Secondary School, Mylapore, Chennai.

The workshop was organised to:

Proposed dumping site threatens water source - Video Volunteers
Chennai's main drinking water source will be affected if a proposed dumping site is built Posted on 14 Feb, 2011 10:03 AM


Save the lakes campaign - Voicing concerns about the state of the Pulicat lake in Tamilnadu
The Save Pulikat Lake Campaign is an ongoing campaign intervening to prevent the deterioration of the lake due to industrial pollution Posted on 20 Aug, 2009 02:46 PM

Learn more about the campaign and to find out how you can contribute.

The document has been sourced from Global Nature Fund's website, an initiative of Pulicat Lake, Crenieo, Global Nature Fund, and Living Lakes.

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