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Background |
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Ousteri lake (Osudu lake) is one of the examples in the history of deterioration of wetlands where a long wait for the final judgment is taking the lake towards a slow death process. The Ousteri lake protects the groundwater level and acts as an alternative source of drinking water. It is also home for different bird species. In spite of great efforts by the environmentalists, the High Court (HC) of Madras had delayed to give its verdict. Taking the full advantage of the situation, a trust has not only built a medical college on the banks of the lake but has started running it.
Ousteri plays a crucial role in recharging the ground water aquifers. It also harbors rich flora and fauna. It is an important wintering ground for migratory birds, and is been identified as one of the heritage sites by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and has been ranked among the most important wetlands of Asia.
The story started in the year 2004, when Lakshmi Ammal Education Trust placed a proposal for construction of a medical college in front of the town planner. The department rejected the proposal in 2005 considering that its location is too close to Ousteri Lake, high ground water requirement and high wastewater generation. Later on the trust was successful in getting clear chit from Pollution Control Committee (PCC), Agriculture Department and even from the Irrigation Department. In 2006, about 21 NGOs came together and formed an Ousteri Protection Coordination Committee (OPCC).
The committee tried to raise their voice in public hearings conducted by the Pollution Control Committee. As a result the PCC asked the trust to prepare the Environment Impact Analysis report. The OPCC protested against the report. It was surprising for the local NGOs how the construction continued during the whole process. OPCC filed a PIL in the HC in the same year against the Union of India, PWD, Town and Country Planning, Pondicherry Pollution Control Committee and the Trust. The HC ordered an interim injunction. In spite of repeated stay orders, the trust continued its construction and even started the admission process.
The OPCC files another PIL in the later part of 2006 pleading the HC to render justice. The court has not come up with its judgment. “The judgment is now reserved. We do not know when the final judgment will be delivered. We expect that we will loose the case and if so our advocates are ready to appeal in the Supreme Court which will be decided only after final judgment, says I Longovan of Poovulagin Nabargal, a Puducherry based NGO”
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Links |
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Research papers:
A study on the fish fauna of Oussudu - a rare freshwater lake of South India
International Journal of Environmental Studies, Volume 62, Issue 2 April 2005 , pages
137 – 145
Read more...
Ecology, habitat and bird community structure at Oussudu lake: towards a strategy for conservation and management (Abstract only)
Read more...
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CHRONOLOGY |
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2004: Lakshmi Ammal Education Trust placed a proposal for construction of a medical college.
2005: The proposal was rejected, considering its closeness to Ousteri Lake, on grounds of high ground water requirement and high wastewater generation.
The trust was successful in getting clear chit from Pollution Control Committee (PCC), Agriculture Department and even from the Irrigation Department, and thus commenced the construction.
2006: About 21 NGOs came together and formed an Ousteri Protection Coordination Committee (OPCC).
Feb 2006: OPCC raised their voice in public hearings conducted by pollution control committee (PCC). The trust was asked to prepare the Environment Impact Analysis report.
March 2006: The OPCC protested against the report and filed detailed objections pointing out the various facts in the EIA which would militate against setting up a hospital/medical college in the catchments of Ousteri lake which would clearly affect water quality, air quality, flora and fauna in the area and the agriculture and livelihood of farmers in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
In spite of the fact that clearance has not been issued, the construction of the project continued.
May 2006: OPCC filed a PIL in the HC against the Union of India, PWD, Town and Country Planning, Pondicherry Pollution Control Committee and the Trust, regarding the illegal construction of Medical College and Hospital adjacent to the Ousteri Lake.
May 2006: The HC ordered an interim injunction. In spite of repeated stay orders, the trust continued its construction and even started the admission process.
Aug 2006: The OPCC files another PIL in the later part of 2006 pleading the HC to render justice.
The court has not come up with its judgment.
2008: The lake was declared a sanctuary by the territorial administration during the end of 2008.
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PEOPLE |
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Researchers:
K.B. Chari and S.A. Abbasi
Centre for Pollution Control and Energy Technology,
Pondicherry University,
Pondicherry, India
E-mail: S.A. Abbasi (prof_abbasi@vsnl.com)
S. Ganapathy
Kathirkramam,
Pondicherry, India |
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