Green Chennai city

Workshop series : 1 / LU (2013) Workshop on “Green Chennai city”

– Scope for greening & beautification – Location of lands, water resources & appropriate species and – follow up action

Sponsored by State Planning Commission Tamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board Chepauk – Chennai

Printed under the funds of

Tamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board State Planning Commission Chepauk, Chennai- 600005

State Planning Commission TNSLURB 1 Green Chennai city

Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission The State Planning Commission was constituted in Tamil Nadu on 25th May 1971 under the Chairmanship of the Hon’ble Chief Minister as an Advisory body to make recommendations to the Government on various matters pertaining to the development of the State. The Chairman of the Commission is assisted by a team of Members, Consisting of Vice Chairman, Full Time Member & Part Time Members who are experts in various fields. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and the Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department are the ex-officio members. The Member Secretary is responsible for administration in the Commission. The Commission has the following technical divisions: 1. Agricultural Policy and Planning 2. Industries, Power and Transport 3. Land Use 4. Education and Employment 5. Health and Social Welfare 6. District Planning and Rural Development 7. Plan Co-ordination.

Main activities of SPC: The Major Functions of the State Planning Commission are as follows: 1. Preparation of Five Year and Annual Plans based on the policies and priorities of the Government; 2. Undertake Mid Term review of the Five Year Plan, other special reviews on the Economy and advise the Government on appropriate modification and restructuring of the schemes; 3. Monitor development indicators that influence the Human Development Index, Gender Development Index, etc., at a disaggregated level and suggest correctional measures; 4. Undertake special studies as required for formulation and implementation of plan projects and programmes; 5. Tamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board (TNSLURB) is functioning under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman, State Planning Commission as a permanent body in the State Planning Commission. This Board is intended to promote interaction and study in the vital areas of land use. The State Planning Commission organizes seminars/workshops and undertake studies. 6. Human Development Reports (HDRs) were prepared for Dindigul, Sivagangai, Tiruvannamalai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, the Nilgiris, Kanyakumari and Dharmapuri districts. The concept of Human Development has been disseminated to all districts through workshops organized in the concerned districts. Proposal for preparation of District Human Development Reports (DHDR) for the remaining districts is under process. 7. State Balanced Growth Fund (SBGF) is operated to bridge the regional imbalances among the districts.

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Contents

Sections Page No.

Workshop Team 4

Workshop Sessions 5

Executive Summary 6

Session – I

Tree Cover in Chennai City 8

Session – II

Bio-remediation and Restoration of the Perungudi Solid Waste Dump 33

Session – III

Urban Forestry 42

Summary of Discussions 60

Summary of Recommendations 63

List of Participants 65

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Workshop Team State Planning Commission

1. Tmt. Santha Sheela Nair, I.A.S. (Retd.), Vice Chairperson

2. Thiru. M.Balaji, I.A.S., Member Secretary

3. Thiru. Sugato Dutt, I.F.S., Head of Division (Land Use)

4. Md. Kaleemullah, Senior Planning Officer (Land Use)

5. Thiru. P. Suresh Kumar, Senior Research Fellow, Tamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board. 6. Tmt. S. Rajalakshmi, Technical Assistant (Land Use)

7. Thiru. M.Thirumavalavan, Technical Assistant (Land Use)

8. Tmt. R. V. Meenakshi, Planning Assistant (Land Use) Institutions / Departments / NGOs

9. Dr. R. Pauline, Assistant Professor, Women’s Christian College, Chennai

10. Dr. Jayashree Vencatesan, Managing Trustee, Care Earth, Chennai 11. Dr. Koyel Mandal, Programme Head, IFMR, Chennai 12 Dr. Vivek Venkataramani, IFMR, Chennai

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Workshop Sessions

Thiru. M. Balaji, I.A.S., Welcome Address Member Secretary, State Planning Commission, Chennai

Tmt. Santha Sheela Nair, I.A.S., (Retd.) Presidential Address Vice Chairperson, State Planning Commission, Chennai

Session – I

Dr. R. Pauline, Tree Cover in Chennai City Assistant Professor, Women’s Christian College, Chennai

Session – II

Pallikaranai Marsh- Bio-Remediation Dr. Jayashree Vencatesan, of Perungudi Dumpsite Including Managing Trustee, Tree Planting Care Earth, Chennai

Session – III

Urban Forestry : Dr. Koyel Mandal, I. Abatement of Environmental Programme Head, Pollution IFMR, Chennai

II. Stakeholder involvement in post Dr. Vivek Venkataramani, plantation after care and IFMR, Chennai maintenance

Thiru. Sugato Dutt, I.F.S., Vote of Thanks Head of Division (Land Use), State Planning Commission, Chennai

State Planning Commission TNSLURB 5 Green Chennai city Executive Summary

Tamil Nadu State Land Use Research Care Earth Trust, Chennai shared their Board, State Planning Commission recently enhanced view about the Pallikaranai Marsh conducted a workshop on “Green Chennai City” Land located along the Coramandel Coast at State Planning Commission (SPC) under south of the Adyar Estuary. The Perungudi the Chairmanship of Vice Chairman, SPC. The dump yard, spans over 75.22 ha. on the north- key objective of this workshop is to remark eastern part of the Pallikaranai Marsh. The the population growth in the State, rapid area of the dump yard has doubled over the urbanization and industrialization and the last decade with an increase from 32 ha. in need for greening the Chennai city to cope up 2002-03 to the current expanse of about 75 ha. with the environmental pollution due to urban In addition to the sheer location of the dump growth and industrialization. The workshop yard within the wetland, the fact that the edge also emphasis the need for protecting effect of the dump yard has been increasing from wetlands and water bodies for sustainable 2.34 ha. in 2002 leading to a loss of 51 percent management of land and water resources.The of the wetland. Restoration of the Pallikaranai resource person has made their presentation Marsh Land is to restore highly degraded on ‘Tree Cover in Chennai City’, ‘Urban Forestry’, but localized sites, to improve production and ‘Pallikaranai Marsh - Bio-remediation of capability in degraded but localized production Perungudi dumpsite including tree planting’. lands, and to enhance conservation values in protected/productive landscapes. According Women’s Christian College, Chennai to the biological view point restoration can be has presented their study on the tree diversity applied to ecosystems, habitats, communities, of Chennai metropolitan city. They explained species, water or soil quality or some other the importance of trees in urban landscapes characteristic of the degraded area. in terms of diversity, distribution and density. Use of GIS technology to map the tree-rich IFMR, Chennai shared their idea about sites and very rare trees, this would be useful – A Planned Approach for Urban Forestry. in the future analysis. Preparation of list of new The perceived need is to increasing green species reports for the city and identification cover/spaces in urban centers to improve of heritage trees in the city. Historical changes environmental quality in general and of tree diversity in Chennai over two centuries mitigate air pollution in particular – direct, and coining of local names for exotic species. tangible benefit. Planned Approach is to They also suggest suitable species for planting Utilizing credible data, visual, geo-referenced in various niches in Chennai. tools to analyze and present information on urban vegetation and air pollution to

TNSLURB State Planning Commission 6 Green Chennai city policymakers to guide action on urban forestry community participation in the maintenance of and providing information for citizens. And the green space (irrigation, watering saplings, analysis using utilization of GIS-based analysis clean up, garbage disposal, etc.) is a prerequisite to determine policy action and implement for setting them up. A secondary analysis of the management plans (back end). Add value may Carbon Sequestration potential of the TOF(trees be an interactive tool that will generate instant outside of forests)/green spaces created insights into the issue while presenting data as would help us understand the prospective pictorial map visuals (front end). carbon storage capacity and to act as climate mitigation tool. Energy efficiency could be A stepping stone to Urban Sustainability. achieved through usage of renewable lighting The pollution levels in the various wards or areas and energy generation through sustainable within the city where the green spaces can be waste management technology installed in established. The availability of land, feasibility of the parks. This can be the first step to promote growing plants in the selected plots, etc. would the inclusion of urban forestry as a part of the be find using appropriate scientific methods city development plan which currently focuses and stakeholder consultations. The species mainly on the provision of basic services that that are chosen for plantation can be resistant does not include environment. to floods, droughts, soil erosion, etc. The local

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Session – I Tree cover in chennai City

Tree Diversity of Chennai Metropolitan City

Highlights of the Study • Comprehensive documentation of Chennai’s green history • Mapping of tree-rich sites and very rare trees using GIS Technology • New species reports for the city • Identification of heritage trees • Historical changes of tree diversity in Chennai over two centuries • Suggestion of suitable species for planting in various niches in Chennai • Coining of local names for exotic species

CHENNAI: Chennai, familiar to most people by its previous name Madras, is the fourth largest metropolitan city in India with a population of 4.68 million. Chennai city has grown laterally and the municipality along with its peri-urban fringe, including Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts, is now known as Chennai Metropolitan Area. The urban agglomerate covers a total area of 1189 sq. km including the city’s 176 sq. km. The green cover of Chennai city is 6.25%, which includes 5 sq. km of moderately dense forest and 4 sq. km of open forest (Forest Survey of India, 2009).

Tree planting in the past had been carried out by the Forest department, Public Works Department and Corporation of Madras. Also many G.Os indicate the nature of trees to be planted in avenues and as fuel trees in Madras.

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Exponential Growth of Chennai Expansion of the City

Population Status

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The objectives of the study • The Agri - Horticultural Society, • To study the diversity and distribution of Semmozhi Poonga and Theosophical trees in the urban landscape of Chennai Society act as good conservatories for city both exotic and native species. • To map the wood-rich sites in Chennai • Academic institutions, avenues, home gardens, public parks and sea coast • To prepare a Spatial Distribution Map for showcase human efforts to plant and the rare trees of Chennai preserve the tree diversity in Chennai. • To identify heritage trees that possess religious, cultural and historical Mapping of tree-rich sites and very rare significance trees using GIS Technology • To investigate the changes in tree diversity The extremely rare trees in these sites of Chennai in the past two centuries were mapped using GPS technology and the • To analyze the composition of indigenous Spatial Distribution of Trees of Chennai (SDTOC) and exotic elements in the city was generated. The spatial database revealed • To provide a tree chart for policy-makers dense clusters in 5 major tree-rich sites in and facilitate the right choice of species Chennai: Theosophical Society, Adyar Eco Park, for planting in various places in the city. Agri-Horticultural Society, Botanical Garden on Methodology Cathedral Road and Guindy National Park. An extensive field work was undertaken The newly designed botanical garden to document the diversity and distribution on Cathedral road, Theosophical Society, public of trees in Chennai city comprising of 10 parks and few academic institutions showcased corporation zones. These field visits were diverse and exotic palms which are first reports helpful to comprehensively cover the study for the state and the city. area spanning an urban core of 176 sq. km. GIS (Geographic Information System) based Spatial Loss of Tree Cover Distribution of Trees of Chennai (SDTOC) was The city is rapidly losing its tree cover built in this study incorporating field data because of various infrastructure development collected through GPS (Global Positioning projects. The commencement of metro rail System) and Remote Sensing. work in many areas of the city has resulted in the closure of parks like May Day Park at Findings Chintadripet, Nehru Park on Poonamallee High • The city of Chennai provides a Road and Thiru-vi-ka Park at Shenoy Nagar. heterogeneous niche for tree diversity. Many rare trees for Chennai like Barringtonia • The natural pockets of vegetation are at acutangula and Berrya cordifolia inside Thiru- the Guindy Reserve Forest and Adyar vi-kapark and Cassia javanica subsp. nodosa, in Estuary. Nehru Park have been axed.

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Trees in Urban Landscapes Residential Areas, Avenues, Public Parks & Remnant Natural Vegetation Ecosystem Services • Pollution abatement • Noise reduction • Flood control • Microclimate amelioration • Reduce energy consumption • Carbon sequestration • Increases urban biodiversity

Urban green spaces are important elements to urban sustainability and green infrastructure’ in cities. Major Metropolitan Cities of India Metropolitan – A region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories India – 1.2 billion people, 53 urban agglomerates & about 100 metros. Population Population City Area (Sq.km.) GreenCover (%) (2011) Density / km2 Delhi 16,753,235 1,483 11,297 11.91

Mumbai 3,145,966 157 20,038 1.27

Kolkata 4,486,679 185 24,252 0

Chennai 4,681,087 176 26,903 6.25

Hyderabad 4,010,238 172 23,315 5.07

Source: www.censusindia.gov.in; Forest Survey of India, 2011

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EARLY EFFORTS OF TREE PLANTING RESULTS AND DISCUSSION IN CHENNAI Total Number of Species 306 Tree Planting by Forest Department Total Number of Genera 206 7th August 1860 Total Number of Families 64 Ficus amplissima, Polyalthia longifolia & Tamarindus indica City Number 1 Trees of Chennai – Current 306 Robert Brown Study (2012) 2 Trees of Delhi by Krishen, P. 242 Adenanthera pavonina, Azadirachta indica, (2006) Bombax ceiba, Casuarina equisetifolia, Delonix 3 The Trees of Calcutta by 240 regia, Ficus amplissima, F. benghalensis, Benthall, A. P. (1933) F.nitida, F.religiosa, Millingtonia hortensis, 4 Trees of Mumbai by Almeida, 118 Polyalthia longifolia, Parkia biglandulosa, M. & N. Chaturvedi (2006) Sterculia foetida, Tamarindus indica & Thespesia populnea NATURAL POCKETS Tree Planting by Public Works Department Guindy National Park G.O. No 1350 W., dt 18th November 1909 – Trees along Marina

Amount sanctioned: Rs 16,330 (1909) Azadirachta indica, Acacia auriculiformis, Areca catechu, Calophyllum inophyllum, Cassia fistula, Casuarina equisetifolia, Kigelia pinnata, Parkia biglandulosa, Samanea saman, Terminalia catappa, Thespesia populnea

Maintenance of Loanes Square Park, Napier’s Park, People’s Park & Robinson’s Park – Rs 24,258 (1907 – 08) – Rs 26,007 (1908 – 09) Tree Planting by Corporation of Madras Avenue Plantation - Primarily to provide shade for Pedestrians 1500 tree saplings (1949 – 50)

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Adyar

CONSERVATORIES Theosophical Society Agri-Horticultural Society

Botanical Garden

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ECO-RESTORED SITES

Tholkaapia Poonga, Adyar

Herbal Park, Otteri

\

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OTHER AREAS Religious Places

Avenues

Corporation Parks • Colonial Establishments • Academic Institutions • Corporate • Offices • Coastal Areas • Home Gardens • Hospitals

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habitat for birds and other wildlife

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Tree-rich Sites in Chennai overlaid on multispectral image captured by IRS 1C – LISS III Satellite

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Spatial Distribution of Trees of Chennai (SDTOC) w.r.t VERY RARE SPECIES found as a solitary tree or in a single location

Frequency of Distribution • Very Rare – 1 or 2 individuals/locations • Rare – 3 to 10 individuals • Less Common – 11 to 50 individuals • Common – 51 to 100 individuals • Very Common - > 100 individuals

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Examples : Very Common Species • Rattle Pod • Mast • Neem • Copper Pod • Curry Leaf • Indian Cork Tree • Papaya • Pongam Tree • Indian Laburnum • Royal Palm • Casuarina • Pagoda Tree • White Silk Cotton • Java Plum • Coconut • Rain Tree • Gulmohr • Portia Tree • Banyan • Indian Almond

Home Gardens

Spacious Houses Apartments • Bael - Vilvam • Lipstick Tree • Neem • Madagascar Palm • Indian Laburnum – Sarakonrai • White Ixora • Coconut • Tree Lettuce • Wood Apple • White Frangipani • Mango • Pagoda Tree • Rain Tree • Yellow Bells • Tamarind

Plumeriaobtusa

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Dypsis lutescens

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HERITAGE TREES Heritage trees were identified and assessed based on their age, size, appearance and most importantly their cultural and historical significance. Ficus benghalensis c. 450 years old

Ficusreligiosa

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ADANSONIA DIGITATA – BAOBAB

Adansoniadigitata is the most widespread of the Adansonia species on the African continent, found in the hot, dry savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. It also grows, having spread secondary to cultivation, in populated areas.

Madras Medical College Theosophical Society

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Government Museum

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YMCA, Nandanam

Number of Tree Species Recorded in Chennai since Colonial Times

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THREATS • Change in Land Use – Spacious garden houses replaced by apartments • Degradation of Habitats • Vandalism • Infrastructural Development Thiru-vi-ka Park at Shenoy Nagar

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Trees Suitable for Planting in Broad Avenues (> 30 m width) • Red Bead Tree (Adenantherapavonina) • Cadamba (Mitragynaparvifolia) • Neem (Azadirachtaindica) • Putranjiva (Putranjivaroxburghii) • Triconmalee Teak (Berryacordifolia) • Arjun Tree (Terminaliaarjuna) • Bastard Rose Wood (Dalbargialanceolaria) • Lac Tree (Schleicheraoleosa) • Rosewood (Dalbergiasissoo) • Ceylon Tea (Elaeodendronglaucum) • Helicopter Tree (Gyrocarpusamericanus) • Indian Elm (Holopteleaintegrifolia) • Bulletwood (Mimusopselengi)

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Trees Suitable for Planting in Narrow Avenues (< 30 m width) • Aathi (Bauhinia racemosa) • Orange Jasmine (Murraya paniculata) • Wild Lime (Atalantia monophylla) • Carnival Bush (Ochna obtusata) • Ebony (Diospyros ebenum) • Pamburus (Pamburus missionis) • Torch Tree (Ixora pavetta) • Polyalthia korinti • Kamala Tree (Mallotus philippensis)

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Trees Suitable for Coastal Areas

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Ornamental Trees

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ACTION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF CHENNAI The study provides detailed information on the tree diversity of Chennai and a key to their identification, which will be a useful source of reference for students, nature lovers, landscape architects, foresters, horticulturists, tourists and NGOs. A list of native and selected exotic species suitable for diverse horticultural uses and habitats are suggested for the improvement of tree diversity in Chennai. Tamil names have been coined for exotic species, to facilitate easy identification and usage of nomenclature by the locals. This study will also be a valuable resource for urban greening and for future management of green cover in Chennai.

The following suggestions are recommended for sustainable greening of Chennai city: 1. Potential sites may be identified for planting indigenous plants (Places like Academic Institutions, Barren hillocks, Corporation Parks, Lake Bunds, River banks and Sea Coast).

2. Choosing the right species for the right habitat is highly important while planting trees;

2.1. Large trees with a spreading canopy are suitable for wide roads

2.2. Small trees with a compact canopy are suitable for narrow avenues

2.3. Trees planted along the coast must be wind and salt-resistant and

2.4. Bird-friendly trees must have copious nectar in flowers or produce brightly coloured fleshy fruits or have boles for suitable habitation.

2.5. A Tree Regulatory Authority may be formed with representatives from the Corporation of Chennai, Urban Forestry Division, Public Works Department, Plant Specialists and NGOs.

2.6. Tree Registers may be maintained with details of several tree planting events in Chennai. Tree Registers can also be maintained with information about rare species and the details can be made available in public domain for protection and education.

2.7. Protection of Heritage Trees. State Planning Commission TNSLURB 31 Green Chennai city

TNSLURB State Planning Commission 32 Green Chennai city Session – II Bio-remediation and Restoration of the Perungudi Solid Waste Dump An opportunity to enhance the ecological merit of Chennai

One of the issues that are rather little or minimal intervention of technology complex to handle in urban conditions, and and manpower. But as cities expanded rather very often construed as a negative output of rapidly, with the boundaries engulfing adjacent the urbanization process is the issue of solid small towns and villages, the issue of dedicated waste disposal. Historically, landfills and dump large tracts of land as dump yards became yards were the only option available to the unviable. Additionally, the notion of having civic authorities to handle solid waste disposal. a solid waste yard in one’s neighborhood was Apart from being cost effective, this option also being viewed with hostility by local residents in had the merit of being easy to implement with many towns and cities.

Perungudi Dump Yard

Area : 75.22 Hectare (0.7522sqkm).Perimeter of the landfill:5.96 km

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Yet another aspect of urbanization, Habitat types of South Chenai Flood Plain which is a dominance of human centric infrastructure and consequent anthropogenic impact over natural areas leading to permanent change in land use and land cover, is the non- availability of spaces for public utilization, or in generic terms, public space. The need of spaces that are for common/public use in recent past was fulfilled by areas that were under the category of common property resources, or by dedicated religious and spiritual spaces. As such spaces disappeared and the functionality of public spaces evolved to include aspects such as learning, amusement, gastronomic indulgence etc, the need to have dedicated Locally known as Kazhiveli (a generic Tamil public spaces within and around cities has name for marshes and swamps), the Pallikaranai become imperative. One such potential case marsh drained about 250 sq. km, through two that can, if addressed through a combination outlets viz the OkkiyamMadavu (channel) in of scientific, technological and human centric Okkiyam thuraipakkam and the Kovalam. solution paradigm, effectively address the issue of reviving a solid waste dump yard and The Pallikaranai Marsh is located along provide a public space is the bioremediation the Coramandel Coast south of the Adyar and restoration of the Perungudi dump yard. Estuary. It is surrounded by the IT-Corridor (Rajiv Gandhi Salai / Old Mahabalipuram A large part of south Chennai was Road) and the residential areas of Perungudi historically a flood plain as evidenced by the soil and Thoraipakkam on the East, Siruseri- type of the region, which is described as recent Sholinganallur villages on the south, the alluvium and granite gneiss. Spread over 50 sq. residential areas of Pallikaranai, Madipakkam km, it comprised of a large marsh (Pallikaranai and Narayanapuram on the West and Velachery, marsh), smaller satellite wetlands, large tracts Taramani, Kandan Chavadi, Perungudi on the of pasture land and patches of dry forests. The North. composite nature of the landscape is depicted in the following diagram wherein the entire landscape is defined as a coastal plain with intermittent and overlapping habitat types of cultivation,wetlands and scrub forests.

TNSLURB State Planning Commission 34 Green Chennai city of the coastal parts of Kancheepuram and Chengelput Districts covering the Vandalur Hills as well. The forests are the Southern Tropical Thorn Forests - a vegetation type that occurs in tropical regions that receive less than 100cm of rainfall annually and the vegetation being dominated by xerophytes including cactuses. This vegetation type is dominated by thorns and drought adapted species many of which bear latex. The Perungudi dump yard, spans over 75.22 ha. is located on the north-eastern part of the Pallikaranai Marsh. The area of the dump yard has doubled over the last decade with an increase from 32 ha. in 2002-03 to the current expanse of about 75 ha. In addition to the sheer location of the dump yard within the wetland, The original expanse of the marsh, the fact that the edge effect of the dump yard estimated on the basis of the Survey of India has been increasing from 2.34 ha. in 2002 toposheets (1972) and aerial photographs leading to a loss of 51 percent of the wetland. (Corona) of the year 1965 was about 5500 ha. It has currently been reduced to around one-tenth of its original extent largely due to urbanisation and the consequent problem of solid waste disposal. The Marsh has survived due to its unique ecology – in being partly saline and largely freshwater. This more or less flat low-lying land has sustained an ecosystem by draining the storm water from large areas of southeast Chennai into the Bay of Bengal. The most important link – in fact the aorta of the ecosystem, is the narrow canal at Bioremediation and Restoration of the Okkiyanmadavu that takes the Marsh’s water Perungudi Dump Yard into the sea. The plan is adaptive in nature, The vegetation abutting the wetland having evolved through long term research, had in the past been popularly known as engagement of the stakeholders and subject ‘Vandalur Scrub’ that extended through most

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to the process of citizen participation and monitoring. The operative principles of the Plan are as follows: 1. The Plan recognizes that the target area is located within a marsh which entails that the area is an intermediate between an aquatic and terrestrial system, prone to ecological flips. 2. The Plan is designed to accord impor- tance to hydrology, specifically drainage and flood mitigation as well as the dichotomous nature of water and the soil substrate. 3. The bioremediation component of the Plan is in situ and dependent on the hydrology of the marsh, largely allowing Guidelines and operational principles the natural flow of water to foster defining the restoration initiative remediation. Restoration can be defined as “the act of 4. The Plan accords importance to the biodiversity richness of 98 the Marsh restoring to a former state or position ... or to an and more importantly the character and unimpaired or perfect condition”. function of the marsh i.e. it is a feeding Restoration is usually carried out for one of habitat for the 122 species of birds that the following reasons: are known to occur in the landscape. a) to restore highly degraded but localized 5. The Plan also recognizes that the sites, landscape is a composite of wetlands of varying sizes and character interspersed b) to improve production capability in with human infrastructure notably roads degraded but localized production lands, and residential zones and hence any c) to enhance conservation values in effort for greening needs to factor in protected/productive landscapes. issues of local use for fishing, grazing etc. According to the biological viewpoint 6. In view of the fact that the dump yard has restoration can be applied to ecosystems, been in operation for over 25 years within habitats, communities, species, water or soil a wetland, and has a current holding of quality or some other characteristic of the about 200,000 metric tons of solid waste, degraded area. it is important to appreciate that only relictual restoration is possible.

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Habitat restoration is a term that is 4. Wind peaks during the late hours from frequently used to cover the general topic of the Easterly direction restoring ecosystems for the specific purpose 5. Local soil type is Recent alluvium gneiss, of providing habitat- either for an individual while availablesubstrate is solid waste or a group of species found in an area. Habitat requiring topsoil topping restoration lays more emphasis on the area 6. Possibility of using treated or partially where organism lives rather than ecological treated sewage to be considered functions. 2. The cluster of operational factors Habitat can be defined as the dwelling 1. Human foot print of visitors place of an organism or community containing the particular combination of resources and 2. Irregular patch with significant edge environmental conditions that are required condition by individuals of a given species or group of 3. Presence of significant quantity of non- species to carry out life processes. Habitat is not biodegradable waste. equivalent to ‘habitat type’ which refers to the 3. The cluster of greening and maintenance type of vegetation association in an area. 1. Integrity of the dump yard to be broken, Restoration Goals smaller patches to be created with A restoration goal is a description minimal or constructed connectivity of the desired outcome of restoration. The 2. Multi species, gallery like planting; actual restoration goals identified should be specific, composition of species in accordance 229 measurable, agreed upon, realistic and time with the zonation. bound, developed in consultation with the 3. Certain species need to be restricted: stakeholders. for instance, leaf shedding species, wide The Restoration Initiative canopy species etc. 4. Focus on shrubs, herbs and grasses to The following factors organized enable naturalrecruitment and improve into clusters were utilized for defining and soil quality through mulching developing the restoration programme for the Perungudi dump yard. 5. All trees recommended native to India, with few being strict natives to the 1. The cluster of natural (abiotic) factors landscape 1. Area available approx. 75 ha. 6. Shrubs will have a mix of native and 2. The candidate area is located within a garden species (75:25) marsh: average annual rainfall around 7. Issues pertaining to maintenance, 1200 mm. minimizing threats 3. North and Western zones are inlets for precipitation run off.

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The Restoration Design the area of restoration exceeds the 75 ha. 1. Based on the existing hydrological flows to include peripheral areas such as weigh in the landscape, the quantum of water bridge area of the dump yard, existing holding of the marsh, the first step would mud roads etc. be to dig trenches on a North-West, South –East gradient with in the dump yard. 2. The concern that contaminants and pollutants from the dump yard would percolate into the southern segment of the marsh, which is a Reserve Forest is quite erroneous for the following reasons: a) the draining of water is an ongoing process since the dump yard is located within the wetland, and there are dedicated culverts to facilitate the drainage of water b) the natural flow of water would over a period of time, flush the contamination and pollutants c) there would be continued presence of some organic pollutants given the fact that the marsh drains 250 sq.km of the south Chennai. 3. Once the dump yard is trenched, the patches could be studied for their contour and restoration activities such as strengthening of bunds through the use of plants, enriching the top soil etc. 4. The restoration initiative does not recommend for a complete cessation of the solid waste management activities, but emphasizes on the need to have a sanitary landfill within a small patch wherein activities that foster recycling and reuse could be taken up. 5. The intervention for each of the patches would be as follows; it is to be noted that

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Intervention Area Sanitary landfill 33 Ha Breeding/ feeding habitat for birds 22 Ha Restoration Plot 49 Ha Interpretation Area 12 Ha Public facilities 6 Ha

6. The location of the each of the aforestated patches is depicted in the following diagram

The following series of diagrams detail the design for greening initiative within the patches dedicated for restoration and breeding. They also provide a cross section view of the proposed design.

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Restoration Zone

Checklist for the possible contents of a • Restoration goals, targets and milestones Restoration Plan • Site location and project boundaries The effectiveness of the restoration • Rainfall and other climatic considerations initiative for the Perungudi dump yard could • Physical properties of the soil and be monitored using the following checklist: landforms over the site • Background to the project, stakeholders • Physical features (including infrastructure) involved and their location

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• Land use history and prior disturbance at over time and space (with flexibility and adjacent to the site for adjustment according to adaptive • Current location, state and ‘trajectory’ of management as the project progresses) native vegetation (if present) • Standard operating procedures and • Condition and distribution of other access to the site relevant habitat features currently • Indicative resource requirements present • Monitoring and evaluation goals, • Proximity to other habitat/remnant indicators and schedule vegetation • Location of reference sites (if applicable) • Current and potential future threats that • The process of reporting and review need to be addressed in order to reach • Contacts and references (including the restoration goal (include site threats previous reports) and project risks) In conclusion, the bioremediation and • Management unit locations and their restoration of the Perungudi dump yard is based management context (maintain, improve, on a comprehensive study of the landscape, its reconstruct or works exclusion zone) character and ecosystem functions. It takes a • Desired habitat goal state (e.g. vegetation balanced view of the urbanization process and composition and structure) is designed to convert a problem into a desired • Management actions, with an output that fulfills the need of the citizens of implementation schedule prioritized Chennai for a green public space.

State Planning Commission TNSLURB 41 Green Chennai city Session - III Urban forestry – A stepping stone to Urban Sustainability

Introduction: Chennai urban agglomeration which is slow storm runoff. The right tree in the right home to a resident population of 8.9 million place can provide beauty, a shady place to according to the 2011 census is the fourth most shelter from the sun, food, soil stabilization, populous metropolitan area in the country. increase property values, conservation and Chennai’s economy has a broad industrial base cultural benefits. Amidst the bustling city life, in the automobile sector which houses 30% they provide a safe natural environment for of India’s automobile industry. A recent news residents to exercise and children to play. article on Asian Age claimed that the vehicular population in Chennai as in April 2012 was 37 Urban forestry projects are also used to lakh in number. This ever growing population advance the understanding of urban forestry and rising industrial development topped by resource, improve urban forest policies, the additional vehicular population has resulted planning and management, provide data to in an alarming increase in the pollution levels in support the potential inclusion of trees within the city. environmental regulations, and determine how trees affect the environment and consequently A recent study undertaken on different enhance human health and environmental cities to compare their green cover stated quality in urban areas. that Chennai was one of the least green metropolitan cities with a meager 9.5% of its Alterations in the environment as a geographical area under green cover. With the consequence of climate change are inevitable ever increasing vehicular pollution, it is very in a person’s day-to-day life. important to increase green cover particularly Hence it is important to integrate in the urban spaces. measures to mitigate climate change with daily lifestyle of the communities. Consequently, Urban forests, whether public or private, green initiatives by themselves aren’t sufficient offer a multitude of benefits. Research indicates to increase the city’s green cover, but them that healthy trees can decrease negative impacts being supplemented by community partici- of urbanization while improving human health. pation is what makes the difference. Trees and plants buffer wind and noise, and generally are recognized as positive influences Project Summary on health and well-being. Trees can reduce The pollution levels in the various energy costs, cool “heat islands” by providing wards or areas within the city will be studied shade, sequester carbon, trap pollutants, and in consultation with the State Pollution Control

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Board officials and experts in the field to select A baseline survey amongst different four sites where the green spaces can be strata of the community will be undertaken to established. understand their willingness to preserve the environment and maintain green spaces in In the selected localities with high their locality. pollution levels, government owned or institutional lands which could be used for Next step would involve a systematic this purpose will have to be selected. The plantation of saplings in their designated availability of land, feasibility of growing plants spaces with adequate volunteers. Sustained in the selected plots, etc. will be studied using maintenance with community participation appropriate scientific methods and stakeholder can be assured only by providing monetary/ consultations. non-monetary incentives. Revenue can begenerated through user/registration charges The past trends of meteorological data by setting up a small club or sports/recreational of rainfall can be studied to analyse the water facilities within the premises of the green space. table in different areas. A secondary analysis of the Carbon The species that are chosen for Sequestration potential of the TOF (trees outside plantation can be resistant to floods, droughts, of forests)/green spaces created would help us soil erosion, etc. Such climate resistant species understand the prospective carbon storage will be carefully selected with suggestions from capacity and to act as climate mitigation tool. experts in the field. Project Evaluation and Impact Assessment The local community participation in Any assignment related to environment the maintenance of the green space (irrigation, conservation has two types of benefits; those watering saplings, clean up, garbage disposal, which are derived in the short run and others etc.) is a prerequisite for setting them up. which can only be measured in the long run. Seminars and workshops will be conducted in the schools to target children of different The benefits of this study in the short age groups and also residents of the locality. run can be measured using the following Thiswould encourage them to appreciate methodology: their local neighborhood as part of the greater Baseline study: A baseline survey would environment and participate in the green space be undertaken targeting local residents and management of their locality. It would also school children across different age groups to induce them to assess their landscape and think ascertain the knowledge, behavior and attitude pro-actively about ways to improve it, both for towards environment conservation. This themselves and also in terms of the entire city would help us design workshops accordingly. and the global environment. This would provide information on the “Before”scenario.

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Impact Evaluation study: A similar study Outline would be conducted after the completion of • Why is urban greening necessary? the study to measure the impact of assignment on different strata of the resident population. • How can it be done? This would gauge the effectiveness of the study • How do we ensure its long term and highlight the “After” scenario. sustainability once implemented? • How can the model be evaluated? The long term gains of this study with regard to ecosystem benefits and climate Why is urban greening necessary? change resilience can be measured as follows: The rationale Are cities important in the light of Climate After an appropriate period of time, a Change? scientific analysis of the carbon sequestered by the green spaces created needs to be 1) Global City population: undertaken to signify the success of the project • 2008 – 3.4 billion in the long run. • 2050 - > 70% of the world population 2) Cities constitute 3% of the global terres- For each of the monitoring variables trial surface but are the world consumers some milestones or targets would be fixed. After of : the project duration the performance of the • 75% of the energy variables would be measured and compared • 75% of the greenhouse gas emissions to the targets to arrive at positive or negative • 60% of the residential water use deviations. Corrective actions would be taken for improvements in the future. • 75% of the wood consumption for industrial purposes Tools for Urban Sustainability

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Urban green spaces have their own benefits • Reduces pollution levels (Cooler and clean air) • Increases water quality and quantity • Biodiversity conservation • Prevents land degradation • Provide Incomes and Jobs generation (orchards, ecotourism, maintenance of the urban forests, nurseries, recycling waste from maintenance • Citizens’ wellbeing and better health The Chennai case • The possible effects of climate change on the city: • Insufficient rainfall and drought • Ground water depletion • Salinity intrusion • Coastal flooding due to sea level rise • Rise in temperatures • Chennai amongst cities with least green cover: (9.5% of total geographical area)

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Urban Greening – Deciding criteria

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MAPPING POLLUTION HOTSPOTS–A PREREQUISITE TO GREENING Urban Forestry – A Planned Approach The perceived need : Increasing green cover/spaces in urban centres to improve environmental quality in general and mitigate air pollution in particular – direct, tangible benefit

Planned Approach : By Utilising credible data, visual, geo-referenced tools to analyse and the present information on urban vegetation and air pollution to policymakers to guide action on urban forestry and providing information for citizens.

Analysis : Utilisation of GIS-based analysis to determine policy action and implement management plans (back end)

Add Value : An interactive tool that will generate instant insights into the issue while presenting data as pictorial map visuals (front end). GIS-based Analysis

Example showing classification of landuse through sat imagery - this is an example of sat imagery that has been classified as high and mild vegetation, built up area, bare soil and water.

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Analysis for Urban Forestry initiatives

More advanced spatial modeling can also help planning for something like urban forestry - this is a map that shows catchment areas that have been modeled along with stream paths.

Other data can be overlaid for more analysis- for instance we can take ward boundaries and generate statistics on how much built up etc., exists for each ward- it can then be used for developing suitable strategies.

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Value Addition for policy makers and citizens

All this data can be used to create a web mapping platform that citizens can and policy makers can interact with to generateinsights (as well as upload information that can help in the planning process), display results of ongoing work, provide updates for reports to Secretaries, Ministers etc. A snapshot of pollution monitoring – pictorial representation to understand geography of sensor locations

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Human settlement & the monitoring regime – Population demographics and air monitors – Low per-capita / per locality air quality monitoring

Risks & Vulnerabilities — High agri-input with least monitoring increasing risk of low knowledge on contamination scenarios

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Overview of Chennai Air Quality Monitoring Infrastructure

A bird’s eye view of all air quality monitoring stations of Chennai

Attributes of one such station showing location, type of monitor and pollutants monitored

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Type and Locations of Monitors

NOx concentrations (Industrial areas) • NOx concentrations near industrial areas within standards. • Recorded levels did not exceed 30µg/m3. • Levels show uniformly similar patterns. • Minor increase in levels is seen during the monsoon months. • All 3 monitoring stations located close to the coast • Manali Industrial area comprising of dense cluster of petrochemical industries • Monitoring of VOCs critical for the area

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NOx Concentrations (Traffic intersections) • NOx levels within limits at all stations? • Average concentrations do not exceed 50µg/m3 • Uniformity in concentrations

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Suspended Particulate Matter

Irrespective of type of location, season, or activity pattern most monitoring stations have recorded levels of SPM above standard

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CAAQM - Gaps in geographical coverage

CAAQM programme & city development • City rapidly expanding, aiming to be decongested. • Monitoring programme needs to extend to urban periphery to cover unmonitored areas • Emission sources like brick kilns and dumpsites need to be monitored to better understand pollution loads and impacts. • Landuse planning and AQ monitoring need to be constantly in sync

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Top Left: Map showing projected population growth rates in areas where city expansion is taking place or is proposed. Source : www.transparentchennai.com Top Right: Map showing current location of air quality monitoring stations restricted to city core. Source : www.indiapollutionmap.org

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Mobile Environmental Sensor Technology* for Air Pollution Monitoring

• Technology Collaboration – Prof.Rich Fletcher, MIT Media Lab Existing Monitors Concerns: • Cost • Large size • Insufficient number • Limited data availability • Insufficient data for determining policy actions Proposed Approach • Portable monitor that can be carried by hand or on a bicycle or vehicle for environmental studies • Low-cost monitor for easy data collection • Complements existing monitoring programme of SPCB and bolsters the quality of air quality information

Portable Monitor Station Features: • Portable • High quality reliable data (ppb level) • NO2, SO2, O3, CO • GPS data • Temperature, humidity • 3-axis accelerometer • Battery-powered • Data can be easily downloaded to mobile phone

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Measuring Air Pollution to guide urban as waterways, parks, OSR spaces etc. for a forestry planning and implementation thorough analysis on land availability • Conduct a brief air quality survey for • Develop a plan to identify to delineate Chennai (for starters) and ascertain the air plantation zones, appropriate species quality profile and hotspots identification. to plant, other measures to provide for • Couple the air quality data with GIS sustainability of plantation efforts processed information on water sheds, • Technology architecture and Interactive water pollution and vegetation cover. model can be replicated by anybody • Potentially overlay other information such and can even be integrated with State

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Planning Commission website portal or Ensuring its sustainability other such platforms. Current Issues Availability of land, water and supporting • Lack of ownership amongst local residents infrastructure • Inadequate incentive to maintain green • Land: Government (Corporation) or space privately owned • Insufficient volunteering • Water: Ground water /irrigation facility in the region to facilitate upkeep of the • Lack of funds green space Solution • Supporting infrastructure: Waste and • Awareness generation amongst residents sewage disposal, electricity and schools MODEL IMPLEMENTATION • Developing sustainability models Community Participation • Establish small walking/jogging pathways, • Maintenance of green spaces involves food stalls, sports complexes to generate plantation,irrigation set up, watering user based fees plants, regular clean up, safety of plants • To demarcate part of the land for urban and upkeep cultivation of organic vegetables/ fruits • Measure local communities’ awareness which can then be sold and willingness to participate in urban • Develop specific areas to accommodate greening – Baseline survey public events (school visits, social • Conduct workshop/seminars to inform functions) them of expected benefits of the green • CSR funds could be a potential source for space such initiatives Sapling Plantations • Plantation of saplings based on consultation with experts and adequate volunteers • Species to be chosen on a scientific basis based on their water requirement, drought resistance, etc.

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Summary of Discussions

“Tree Cover in Chennai City” • It was observed that in the parks maintained by the Corporation of • It was observed that most of the trees Chennai, landscape work has been done. planted in the parks are not native species However, planting of trees has not been and there is a necessity of preserving taken up in a big way. Hence, it was local species. Hence it was suggested suggested that the Chennai Corporation that Corporation of Chennai shall may promote planting of more trees promote planting of indigenous species in Parks along with the landscape like “Palmyrah” trees and other palms too. development. This move will support These trees can be promoted on tank local birds and insects that thrive on bunds also. these trees. It was also suggested that • It was observed that Planting of trees is to high density planting should be taken up. be documented for future references. • Protection and maintenance of plants • It was observed that there is a need to is very much essential in promotion of pool up resources of all departments for green Chennai and Chennai Corporation the planting and maintaining of trees. may submit a proposal on this for funding It was suggested that the CMDA and under Part II Schemes to SPC. Corporation of Chennai, in association • Planting and maintenance of Avenue with other connected departments shall trees should be emphasized in the prepare a ‘Urban Tree Management Plan’ Chennai city. Also, treated sewage water on a war footing manner to increase can be made use of for watering the Green Cover in the Chennai City and its plants. Suburban Areas. It was also suggested • Trees are nature’s mechanism of Rain that the participation of NGOs, in Water Harvesting. Massive programme plantation and its maintenance may be on tree planting should be taken up in encouraged. order to promote Rain Water Harvesting. • It was suggested that planting of trees Major projects of Tree planting in the could be taken up in the large scale in State should be evaluated and temple lands. documented. • It was observed that in most of the places, • Industrial areas in and around Chennai the coastal forest was disappeared and it city may be targeted for promotion of can be seen only in few pockets. Hence, tree planting. The trees will Un-pollute it was suggested that intensive Greening the pollution caused by the Industries. The Timber species can be the choice of of Eastern Coastal Areas can be taken up promotion in such areas, which has also which will also serve as disaster mitigation economically value. measure.

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“Bio-remediation and Restoration of the • CMWSSB is requested to stop letting out Perungudi Solid Waste Dump” of raw sewage in the Marsh. SPC will help • It was suggested that Restoration of CMWSSB in finding out the resources to Pallikaranai Marsh could be made take up treatment of sewage water. through trenches. • The participation / involvement of the • It was suggested that Corporation of Collector of Chennai in Urban Forestry, Chennai may take up a project on flood Greening Chennai and Conservation of mitigation and wetland conservation in Pallikaranaiis vital. Hence, the Corporation Pallikaranai marsh in association with of Chennai was requested to involve the Care Earth, Chennai. Collector of Chennai in all its projects regarding Greening of Chennai. • The Corporation of Chennai was reques- ted to take up all the research work “Urban Forestry” pertaining to Pallikaranai Marsh. The – Abatement of Environmental pollution research work will be an immense – Stakeholder involvement in post use for the preparation of Plan for the plantation after care and maintenance Pallikaranai Marsh. • The services of NGOs, Resident’s • The Sludge from Cooum River could be Association can be utilized for the dumped as land fill in Pallikaranai Marsh maintenance of existing and newly to carry out phytoremediation in the planted trees. Marsh. • The Corporation of Chennai conduct • It was suggested that a Valuation Study awareness Campaigns for the promotion could be conducted on Pallikaranai of home gardens. Marsh. • The Corporation of Chennai shall pro- • Proper maintenance and channelizing of mote traffic islands and its maintenances. 32 tanks in and around Pallikaranai marsh could be taken up by the Corporation of • Corporation of Chennai was requested Chennai for the ease of water flow. to set up an advisory body consisting of NGOs and others who are involved in the • The Managing Trustee, Care Health was Environmental Works to formulate the requested to prepare and submit specific projects to make the City green. People’s recommendations on the conservation active participation in greening the of Pallikaranai Marsh based on their Chennai is indispensable. studies to Corporation of Chennai for consideration. • To Promote Greening in Chennai City, the Corporation of Chennai shall formulate

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scheme of awarding cash prizes, • Inculcating green cover in premises incentives, trophies etc., for the best tree of schools, colleges and Educational planting activities, like best maintained Institutions could be encouraged. traffic island, best maintained Park, etc. • The Forests Department shall develop a Proper publicity shall also be give for the Working plan for Urban Forestry as it is success of the scheme. being done in the Reserve Forests. • The services of Urban Horticulture Center, • It was observed that there is no good Park Chennai shall be utilized for vegetating available in the Northern side of Chennai. the existing parks of Corporation of It was pointed out that lands for greening Chennai. New Parks and Avenue trees can are available in Manali belt. Hence, it was be developed in the expanded area of suggested that development of wooded Corporation of Chennai, which has very area in Northern Chennai with location specific species could be made. high potential for planning. • The CMWSSB was requested to take up • The Collector of Chennai may take up Promotion of high density planting in its monitoring of the Parks, Playgrounds well field area, by using the secondary etc., in Chennai city, according to the treated sewage water. Regulatory Acts. • It was stressed the need to raise nurseries • It was also observed that there is of local trees in Parks with the involvement indiscriminate cutting of trees for taking of the local community. up development Works. It was suggested • It was suggested that the Corporation of that transplanting of trees could be Chennai shall prepare a Master Plan for encouraged instead of cutting the trees. Greening the extended Chennai area. The • It was suggested that all the Parks and services of IFMR may be utilized for the Play grounds shall be notified for preparing the Master Plan, as the IFMR safeguarding them from conversion to has recently done a Satellite study and other purposes. data are available with them. • It was observed that there is no ‘Tree • There is a need for valuation study for Register’ at present and hence stressed Greening Chennai. The Corporation of Chennai may develop a proposal in this the need for maintaining the ‘Tree regard and pose for funding under Part II Register’ at Corporation of Chennai, schemes of Annual Plan. which will help in prevention of indis- criminate cutting of trees. • Corporation of Chennai, Chennai River Restoration Trust (CRRT) and Tamil Nadu • It was suggested that the TNPCB shall Forest Department could co-ordinate insist all Industries to have atleast 25 together and draw up Urban Forestry percent green cover area. schemes for greening Chennai.

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Summary of Recommendations

After the presentations the following be made mandatory, the registration of observations and suggestions were made. future works on the Pallikaranai Marsh to 1. The Proceedings of the Workshop will the Authority. be documented and requested the 6. Few studies on (a) Technical requirements presenters to furnish a write up on their in Pallikaranai Marsh, (b) Management of presentation for inclusion in the booklet. untreated sewage letting out in marsh, 2. The Corporation of Chennai, keeping and (c) Management of Rain Water in view the input of this Workshop, may Harvesting in and around Marsh could be prepare a proposal for improving and taken up. greening the Chennai City and posed the 7. Head of Division (Land Use), SPC may proposal to State Planning Commission be nominated as a Member of the for funding under Part II schemes of Authority which is working for the Annual Plan 2014-15. overall development and conservation of 3. Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board Pallikaranai Marsh. (TNPCB) and Chennai Metropolitan Water 8. It was noted that the green area of Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) Chennai Corporation is only 6 percent. could take up few projects on Greening The Corporation of Chennai was the Chennai. requested to prepare a Master Plan for 4. The Corporation of Chennai and Forests Greening the whole Chennai City from Department was requested to prepare a the percent 6 percent to 15 percent. The proposal jointly, on the conservation of Master Plan may go as an ‘Announcement Pallikaranai Marsh and pose it to State by the CM’. Planning Commission for funding under 9. The Corporate Houses may be encou- Part II Schemes of Annual Plan 2014-15. raged to assist the Corporation of 5. The Pallikaranai Marsh Authority was Chennai in Planting and maintaining requested act as a nodal agency and to the saplings. A competitive spirit may create open source facility through the be evolved by announcing schemes of web site for putting up all the information awarding prizes for maintaining best and registration of the Research Studies traffic island, park etc. / Conservation works carried out on 10. The Collector of Chennai shall conduct a Pallikaranai Marsh so far. It should also tree census in association with NGOs and other suitable organizations.

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Recommendations made by Vice Chairman, SPC:

• To induce a sense of competitiveness facilitate well informed and objective and amongst different communities and planned development of green spaces in localities and promote best maintenance the urban set up. Such green space/park of parks created. This could be in the development initiatives can be integrated form of awards or cash incentives to be with these master plans presented by relevant State dignitaries • To develop more financing models • To develop a master or management plan ensuring long term sustainability of for the Trees Outside Forests (TOF) to green spaces from best practices and innovations around the world.

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List of Participants

State Planning Commission Tmt. Santha Sheela Nair, I.A.S., (Retd), Vice Chairman,

Thiru. M. Balaji, I.A.S., Member Secretary

Thiru. Sugato Dutt, I.F.S, Head of Division (Land Use)

Thiru. P. Selvarajan, Head of Division (Rural Development & District Planning)

Thiru. T.S. Muthukumar, Head of Division (Plan Co-ordination)

Dr. K.R. Jahanmohan, Head of Division (Agriculture Policy & Planning)

Selvi. Namagiri, District Planning Officer (District Planning)

Thiru. Md. Kaleemullah, Senior Planning Officer (Land Use)

Thiru. R.K. Haroon, Planning Officer (Agricultural Policy & Planning)

Thiru. P. Suresh Kumar Senior Research Fellow Tamil Nadu State Land Use Research Board

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Collectorate of Chennai Tmt. E. Sundaravalli, I.A.S., Collector, Chennai.

Corporation of Chennai Thiru. C.N. Mahesvaran, I.A.S., Deputy Commissioner ( Health)

Thiru R.Umapathy, Executive Engineer ( SWM)

Thiru. V. Kannan, Assistant Executive Engineer

Thiru B. Suresh Babu, Assistant Engineer,

Thiru V. Sukumar,

Forests Department

Thiru. T. S. Srinivasamurthy, I.F.S., Additional PCCF (Work Plan)

Thiru. Yogesh Singh, I.F.S., Conservator of Forests

Thiru. S. Soundararajan, District Forest Officer

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Department of Environment Dr. Jayanthi. M. I.F.S., Additional Director CMWSSB Thiru. N. Anbarasan, Senior Engineer

Thiru. M. Soundararajan, Hydrogeologist

TWAD Board Thiru. M. M. Savarimuthu, Director, CCDU

Dr. S.Vinobha, Senior Hydrogeologist

National Highways Thiru. R. Abisekarajavathy, Senior Engineer

Highways Department Thiru. K. S. Sadandam, ACE(R), Chennai

Thiru. Senthilnathan, Deputy Engineer,City Roads

TNPCB Thiru R.Kumar ACEE

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CMDA Thiru. S. Paneer Selvam, Deputy Planner

Municipal Administration Department Thiru T. Natarajan, Assistant Executive Engineer

Thiru. Dwarakanath Rao, Manure Officer

Tmt. R. Aruna, Urban Development specialist

PWD Thiru T. Rathinaraj, Executive Engineer ( Retd)

Chennai River Restoration Trust Dr. S.Viswanathan, Environment specialist.

Anna University Dr. N. Vasudevan, Director, Centre for Environmental Sciences.

Vinayaka Mission University Dr. G. Rengasami,, Dean

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Madras Christian College, Chennai Dr. D. Narasimhan, Associate Professor.

Women’s Christian College, Chennai Dr. R. Pauline, Assistant Professor

Care Earth, Chennai Dr. Jayshree Vencatesan, Managing Trustee

MIDS, Chennai Dr. L. Venkatachalam, Associate Professor

IFMR Thiru Koyel Mandal, Programme Head

Thiru. Rajesh Rangarajan, Senior Researcher

Thiru. Vivek Venkataramani, Researcher

Thiru.Chayan Bandyopadhaya, Researcher

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