Garbage strewn across the sand, mounds of debris along the shoreline, and rows of thatched huts vulnerable to flooding continue to mark portions of the beach stretch close to Kalakshetra Colony in Besant Nagar, and close to north of the Thiruvanmiyur Beach.
Residents alleged that civic issues and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations remain unaddressed. “At night, sometimes we wake up to check whether snakes have entered our huts. There are no garbage bins here, so waste is dumped in the open. Reptiles, rats, and street dogs are common here,” said Sarasa and Dasamma, elderly fish vendors who have lived on the beach for several years.
They said, “Around five families on the stretch live in huts with thatched roofs, asbestos-sheet walls and broken doors. People with means are building new cement houses. We cannot afford upgrading to concrete homes, so we moved to huts. There are no electricity or sewage connections for huts here, so we depend on public toilets for bathing and other needs.” Residents said debris had been dumped at two locations along the coast to harden the sandy surface for easier movement of vehicles and transport of goods.
Cement bags, tiles, and construction materials were seen stacked at portions of the stretch, close to where fisherfolk park their boats, which leads towards the houses there. Attempts to lay roads close to the shoreline had earlier been halted by Chennai Corporation officials, residents said, adding that fresh activity had resumed in recent weeks. Locals expressed concern that additional construction near the coast could increase risks during heavy rain, flooding, and sea ingress.
Construction materials were dumped at at portions of the stretch close to where fisherfolk park their boats, nearby Kalakshetra Colony. | Photo Credit: R. Aishwaryaa
Under CRZ regulations, construction activity is restricted within 200 metres of the High Tide Line along ecologically-sensitive coastal stretches.
Garbage and debris were also found dumped behind the Arupadai Veedu temple, residents said, and urged authorities to install surveillance cameras and prevent further dumping.
A GCC official of the Adyar Zone said a portion of the beach right behind the temple was cleared later on Saturday. The remaining will be taken up in the following days and steps for surveillance will also be taken up, said Velachery MLA R. Kumar.