Ennore: Where industrial development has made life troublesome for residents-OxBig News Network

“Don’t ask what problems Ennore has — ask what problems it doesn’t have,” says a resident, starting an extended dialog concerning the space he loves, but hates to see changing into more and more unlivable daily.

A extremely industrialised area of north Chennai, Ennore and its coastal areas have been bearing the brunt of air pollution and its affect for a number of a long time. Residents battle with air pollution on a day-to-day foundation, nevertheless it features widespread consideration solely when a significant incident happens. For instance, in December 2023, Ennore witnessed two large environmental hazards that mirrored the residents’ decades-long struggles: an oil spill from a public sector refinery throughout Cyclone Michaung, and an ammonia leak from a fertiliser manufacturing unit.

Okay. Devaki, who has been residing in Sathyavani Muthu Nagar since 1975, mentioned that when she first moved to the realm, the water high quality was very poor, and she or he needed to fetch water from two kilometres away. “If you take a look at the teeth of my son and daughter, you will understand the impact of polluted water; it turned yellow due to excessive fluoride in water. We struggle with hairfall too. Due to constant inhalation of polluted air, thanks to industrial emissions, many of us have developed breathing difficulty and respiratory issues,” mentioned the 69-year-old.

Residents of a minimum of 5 streets of Sathyavani Muthu Nagar have complained {that a} powder-like substance from a close-by manufacturing unit has been selecting their homes for the previous few weeks.
| Photo Credit:
B. Jothi Ramalingam

Bhagathsingh, a resident of Ulaganathapuram in Ennore, mentioned their experiences with air pollution appear limitless — whether or not it’s fly ash from thermal energy crops, ammonia leaks from the undersea pipeline of the fertiliser firm, or, most just lately, yellow and orange residue observed in the backwaters, possible some sort of effluent.

“While industrial development progressed rapidly in and around Ennore, improvements in basic amenities, infrastructure, and transport did not happen at the same pace for residents. This lackadaisical attitude exists largely because Ennore is home to a working-class population. The second generation of families in Ennore is slowly moving out to the city, with pollution being the main factor. Industrial pollution has impacted the health of many,” he mentioned.

Quite a few residents mentioned they had been even pondering of promoting their homes and shifting to a safer place. Manohar, a resident of Nehru Nagar in Ennore, mentioned that air and water air pollution stays the highest two issues for residents. “There used to be dust emissions from factories in the morning and smoke billowing out of chimneys at night. The effluents from factories have been causing health issues,” he mentioned, including that the groundwater is unfit for ingesting in lots of elements of Ennore.

The powder-like residue brought on by industrial air pollution
| Photo Credit:
B. Jothi Ramalingam

Like Mr. Manohar, a number of residents of Sathyavani Muthu Nagar famous that whereas they depend on Metrowater provide for ingesting functions, the groundwater can’t be used even for bathing. “Sometimes, if we keep the water in a container, we can see a layer of oil on top of it,” a resident identified.

Loss of livelihood

Fishermen from plenty of villages depend on the Ennore creek and backwaters — the purpose the place Kosasthalaiyar river, North Buckingham canal, and the ocean confluence — for his or her livelihood. Fisherfolk say that this was as soon as a thriving marine ecosystem, identified for its wealthy biodiversity. But industrial air pollution has had devastating results on the creek, thereby affecting fisheries.

A resident of Nettukuppam alleged that some industries had been discharging industrial waste and scorching water into the Ennore creek, destroying marine life and the livelihood of the fisherfolk. “Who is bothered? No one seems to worry about us or the worsening environment here,” he mentioned. The State authorities ought to a minimum of intervene and assist the fisherfolk, he urged.

D. Venkatesan, a fisherman from Ennore Kuppam, mentioned that Ennore’s waters was a thriving area for fish, prawns, and crabs however it’s now not so. “The Ennore creek, which used to be a fishing ground rich in marine life, is suffering due to pollution. Earlier, most fisherfolk used to make a profit of at least ₹1,000 a day but now, many are unable to even meet the expenses. An entire area is being destroyed, and nobody cares. Nearly 13 to 14 fishing hamlets are going through untold misery,” he lamented.

With their livelihoods in query, he mentioned some fisherfolk have turned to day by day wage jobs. “It was in the 1990s that permanent jobs at the thermal station were given to residents. Despite the expansion, no permanent jobs have been offered in the years since. We have been continuously demanding permanent jobs and regularly holding meetings with government officials. But they are willing to offer only contractual work. A few from our area have been engaged in cleaning jobs at one of the units. Shouldn’t the government step in and provide permanent jobs for the affected people?” he asks.

The powder-like residue brought on by industrial air pollution
| Photo Credit:
B. Jothi Ramalingam

Pointing to a video taken within the backwaters close to the Ennore bridge, he mentioned that some sort of a chemical was being discharged into the North Buckingham Canal, turning the water yellowish. “We complained to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. Though they visited the site and lifted samples, nothing has been done so far.

Many residents of Ennore raised the need for stringent monitoring to ensure that industries adhered to norms. “Industries should be monitored to ensure that they follow pollution control norms,” Mr. Bhagathsingh calls for. He additionally raised the necessity for a whole well being screening for residents of Ennore to evaluate the affect of industrialisation and air pollution on their well being.

Member of Parliament (Chennai North) Kalanidhi Veeraswamy mentioned they’ve held conferences with firms in and round Ennore and have requested them to arrange air high quality displays, together with at visitors junctions, the place the air high quality ranges might be displayed. He added that enchancment works, together with the desilting of Kosasthalaiyar, are in progress.