The Hindu Business Line : `Law to protect lakes, water courses must'

THE Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority needs to frame appropriate legislative measures to protect tanks and prevent encroachments in reservoirs and watercourses, Mr P.D. Dinakaran, Judge, Madras High Court, has said.

Over the past few decades, there has been a lack of political planning and long-term strategy to tackle drought. Water storage areas have been encroached upon and tanks have disappeared and the existing legal provisions are not stringent enough to prevent encroachments, he said.Mr Dinakaran said environmental protection must be co-ordinated with industrialisation for sustainable development. Social awareness is the key to ensuring pollution-free use of natural resources, he said, adding that pressure groups and NGOs need to carry the idea forward.

Mr Dinakaran was addressing an award function here on Thursday to present the Dr M.S. Swaminathan Award for Environmental Protection 2003 to Orchid Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Ms Jayanthi, Vice-Chairperson, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, said beautification of the city and conservation were major focus areas.

The authority was taking up the beautification of the 3.4-km-long marina and will shortly acquire the equipment for cleaning the sands.

A co-ordination committee was also being formed to bring together the various Government agencies that were responsible for the beaches to improve roads and the landscape, she said.

Dr M.S. Swaminathan, Chairman, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, said the private sector has taken major initiatives in environment conservation but more needs to done.

Surveys have shown that standards maintained in India by multinational companies were often lower than those maintained elsewhere.

With increased awareness on pollution issues, industries could face litigation unless they conformed to sustainable practices, and affordable solutions were available.

Environment pollution has been identified as a major cause for health problems and public good cannot be sacrificed for private profit, he said.

The Rotary Club of Madras East and Earthcare, a company involved in marketing eco-friendly stationery, have instituted the environment protection award.

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