Chennai's Ennore: Where industrial growth has made life difficult for residents

The Hindu

4 days ago

'Don't ask what problems Ennore has — ask what problems it doesn't have,' says a resident, beginning a long conversation about the area he loves, yet hates to see becoming increasingly unlivable day by day.
A highly industrialised region of north Chennai, Ennore and its coastal areas have been bearing the brunt of pollution and its impact for several decades. Residents struggle with pollution on a day-to-day basis, but it gains widespread attention only when a major incident occurs. For example, in December 2023, Ennore witnessed two massive environmental hazards that reflected the residents' decades-long struggles: an oil spill from a public sector refinery during Cyclone Michaung, and an ammonia leak from a fertiliser manufacturing unit.
K. Devaki, who has been living in Sathyavani Muthu Nagar since 1975, said that when she first moved to the area, the water quality was very poor, and she had to fetch water from two kilometres away. 'If you take a look at the teeth of my son and daughter, you will understand the impact of polluted water; it turned yellow due to excessive fluoride in water. We struggle with hairfall too. Due to constant inhalation of polluted air, thanks to industrial emissions, many of us have developed breathing difficulty and respiratory issues,' said the 69-year-old.
Bhagathsingh, a resident of Ulaganathapuram in Ennore, said their experiences with pollution seem endless — whether it is fly ash from thermal power plants, ammonia leaks from the undersea pipeline of the fertiliser company, or, most recently, yellow and orange residue observed in the backwaters, likely some kind of effluent.
'While industrial development progressed rapidly in and around Ennore, improvements in basic amenities, infrastructure, and transport did not happen at the same pace for residents. This lackadaisical attitude exists largely because Ennore is home to a working-class population. The second generation of families in Ennore is slowly moving out to the city, with pollution being the main factor. Industrial pollution has impacted the health of many,' he said.
A number of residents said they were even thinking of selling their houses and moving to a safer place. Manohar, a resident of Nehru Nagar in Ennore, said that air and water pollution remains the top two concerns for residents. 'There used to be dust emissions from factories in the morning and smoke billowing out of chimneys at night. The effluents from factories have been causing health issues,' he said, adding that the groundwater is unfit for drinking in many parts of Ennore.
Like Mr. Manohar, several residents of Sathyavani Muthu Nagar noted that while they rely on Metrowater supply for drinking purposes, the groundwater cannot be used even for bathing. 'Sometimes, if we keep the water in a container, we can see a layer of oil on top of it,' a resident pointed out.
Loss of livelihood
Fishermen from a number of villages rely on the Ennore creek and backwaters — the point where Kosasthalaiyar river, North Buckingham canal, and the sea confluence — for their livelihood. Fisherfolk say that this was once a thriving marine ecosystem, known for its rich biodiversity. But industrial pollution has had devastating effects on the creek, thereby affecting fisheries.
A resident of Nettukuppam alleged that some industries were discharging industrial waste and hot water into the Ennore creek, destroying marine life and the livelihood of the fisherfolk. 'Who is bothered? No one seems to worry about us or the worsening environment here,' he said. The State government should at least intervene and help the fisherfolk, he urged.
D. Venkatesan, a fisherman from Ennore Kuppam, said that Ennore's waters used to be a thriving region for fish, prawns, and crabs but it is no longer so. 'The Ennore creek, which used to be a fishing ground rich in marine life, is suffering due to pollution. Earlier, most fisherfolk used to make a profit of at least ₹1,000 a day but now, many are unable to even meet the expenses. An entire area is being destroyed, and nobody cares. Nearly 13 to 14 fishing hamlets are going through untold misery,' he lamented.
With their livelihoods in question, he said some fisherfolk have turned to daily wage jobs. 'It was in the 1990s that permanent jobs at the thermal station were given to residents. Despite the expansion, no permanent jobs have been offered in the years since. We have been continuously demanding permanent jobs and regularly holding meetings with government officials. But they are willing to offer only contractual work. A few from our area have been engaged in cleaning jobs at one of the units. Shouldn't the government step in and provide permanent jobs for the affected people?' he asks.
Pointing to a video taken in the backwaters near the Ennore bridge, he said that some kind of a chemical was being discharged into the North Buckingham Canal, turning the water yellowish. 'We complained to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. Though they visited the site and lifted samples, nothing has been done so far.
Many residents of Ennore raised the need for stringent monitoring to ensure that industries adhered to norms. 'Industries should be monitored to ensure that they follow pollution control norms,' Mr. Bhagathsingh demands. He also raised the need for a complete health screening for residents of Ennore to assess the impact of industrialisation and pollution on their health.
Member of Parliament (Chennai North) Kalanidhi Veeraswamy said they have held meetings with companies in and around Ennore and have asked them to set up air quality monitors, including at traffic junctions, where the air quality levels could be displayed. He added that improvement works, including the desilting of Kosasthalaiyar, are in progress.