Fisherfolk and residents in and around Ennore in Chennai have been protesting against pollution of the Ennore creek and encroachment of land by various Industries and the government.
The total wetland area in Ennore, as per the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, is 2,000 acres. Since the 1980s, effluents have been released into the creek, which connects with the Araniyar and Kosathalaiyar rivers as well as the manmade Buckingham canal. These effluents include fly ash from thermal plants and hot water discharge, which affects the fish population in the area.
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), Manali Petrochemical Industrial Complex and three other power plants in the area are allegedly the main contributors to the pollution. After years of protest by the fishing community, the Madras High Court in 1996 ordered the thermal power plant to stop dumping fly ash into the creek as well as to clean up waste that was dumped into it earlier. But despite the court order, the plant continues to dump effluents into the creek. This, the residents complain, adversely affects their health.
The environmental impacts of encroachment of the wetlands was felt in 2015 during floods, as excess water could not be drained into the wetlands. Following the floods, activists and local people approached the National Green Tribunal and argued that the Ennore wetlands must be protected as they played a crucial role in flood control.
Encroachment by industries has also displaced the residents of two fishing villages, who have been forced to relocate to a place 2km from the sea. This has impacted their livelihoods. They fear further displacement as talks of opening another power plant in the area have been going on.
In addition to the industrial activity on the wetlands, the expansion of the Kamarajar Port in the area has also commenced, affecting the fisherfolk's access to the sea.
In July 2020, the Water Resources Department commenced operations to dredge Ennore creek backwaters of fly ash. This is to be completed before the monsoon sets in during the month of October.
Update
Despite years of alarming pollution levels and repeated incidents, industrial emissions and waste from Ennore-Manali’s factories have continued largely unchecked, and government intervention remains minimal. The inaction of both the industries and the authorities has worsened the environmental health of this region, calling for urgent measures to enforce strict regulatory compliance and safeguard the vulnerable ecosystems and communities dependent on Ennore Creek.
On 4 December 2023, an oil spill originating from the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) affected approximately 60 hectares of mangroves in Ennore Creek, as reported by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Exacerbated by floods following Cyclone Michaung, the oil spread into Buckingham Canal and Ennore Creek, posing a serious threat to local ecosystems and the health and livelihoods of thousands of fishermen. Despite the impact, no deaths of mangrove plants have been reported, and continuous monitoring is being conducted by the Forest Department to prevent further ecological damage.
The Ennore-Manali industrial cluster, home to 36 red-category petrochemical factories, is the densest concentration of fossil-fuel industries in South India. This area has been flagged as critically polluted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for nearly a decade, with studies documenting frequent violations of emission standards. The spill underscores the environmental hazards in a region already burdened by high levels of pollution and plastic production, linking this incident to a broader issue of industrial negligence and ecological degradation.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Opposition against environmental degradation
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Urban and Rural
Type of Land
Common
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Non-agri rural enterprise, Water bodies
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Violation of environmental laws
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
National Green Tribunal; Madras High Court
Case Number
Original Application No. 14 of 2017 (SZ); Writ Petition No. 30237 of 2018 and Writ Miscellaneous Petition No. 35289 of 2018
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco)
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Local fisherfolk
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
