Latest news with #PalluyirTrust
Time of India
18-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Waste-to-energy plant could affect 50 bird species, says Palluyir Trust
1 2 3 Chennai: The Palluyir Trust , a Chennai-based environmental organization, has urged Greater Chennai Corporation to drop its plan to set up a waste-to-energy plant at Sathangadu, warning that the site lies within ecologically sensitive wetlands behind the Kodungaiyur dumpyard. During a survey on March 28, naturalists from the trust identified 50 bird species within just three hours at the proposed project site. Among those recorded were threatened birds such as grey pelicans and painted storks, along with migratory species such as wood sandpipers, whiskered terns, grey-headed lapwings, and brown-headed gulls, which travel from Central Asia and Russia. Naturalists noted bird movement between the site and Pulicat Bird Sanctuary, suggesting that Sathangadu functions as a feeding or resting corridor in the broader migratory route. The wetland, in addition to being a wildlife habitat, also acts as a crucial floodplain for neighbourhoods prone to waterlogging during the monsoon. Environmentalists warn that building a thermal incinerator here could increase urban flood vulnerability by choking a natural drainage buffer. Residents of Kodungaiyur warned the plant would intensify flooding during monsoons, as the neighbourhood already suffers from poor drainage and inadequate flood mitigation. "The area floods every year because nearby waterbodies are not maintained. Putting a large incinerator project here will block natural runoff and make it worse," said a resident, V Ganesh. They urged authorities to consider alternate locations such as the existing landfill, which is already degraded and would spare the wetland from further ecological damage. When contacted, a senior official from GCC said they would review the study and respond accordingly.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Palluyir Trust identifies over 50 birds at Sathangadu lake, raises concern over proposed waste-to-energy plant
Palluyir Trust, a Chennai-based organization for nature education and research, has urged the Greater Chennai Corporation to explore alternative solutions to the proposed Kodungaiyur waste-to-energy plant, citing concerns about protecting and managing the nearby Sathangadu lake. This was mentioned in a report following a recent bird survey at the Sathangadu lake, where over 50 species of birds were identified. The Trust said that the area was 'unsuitable' for an incinerator plant. During the one-day survey done by a team of naturalists on March 28, it was found that many threatened species such as Grey Pelicans were identified at Sathangadu lake, which is around 5 km from the Kodungaiyur dump yard, the report stated. It noted that many of the migratory birds including Wood Sandpipers, Grey-headed Lapwings, Whiskered Terns, and Brown-headed Gulls were protected under protected under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), also known as the Bonn Convention. Many species were observed to be moving between this site and the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary, the report added. 'Large numbers of water birds in a wetland indicate a well-developed benthic substrate [bottom surface of a water body that supports aquatic life such as insects, worms, and micro organisms], and a good diversity of fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic creatures that birds feed on and also indicate the health of the wetland,' it mentioned. The site functions as a flood catchment area and a critical water source for the surrounding population, according to the report.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Chennai joins global City Nature Challenge to spotlight urban biodiversity
Did you know that there are around 100 species of wildflowers and 150 species of butterflies in Chennai? One might be skeptical, but a closer look would reveal this biodiversity. Residents of the city have joined the global City Nature Challenge (CNC), which runs from April 25 to 28. Organised by the Community Science teams at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the challenge involves participation from various cities, wherein nature enthusiasts share observations of flora and fauna on the iNaturalist platform. CNC aims to raise awareness about urban biodiversity and encourages people to engage in citizen science by spotting and documenting trees, birds, and other wildlife they might not typically notice. P. Harini, a 21-year-old nature enthusiast, participated last year as well. She says she took up the challenge on a whim, introduced to it by her sister. What started as a casual hobby of observing both flora and fauna has now evolved into what Harini describes as an 'exhilarating obsession.' A resident of Triplicane, she visits nearby parks and even observes nature from her terrace. On the first day of the challenge this year, she spotted around 45 species of flora and fauna. Among them were the Great Banded Hornet, Chinese Apple, and Garden Tent-web spider. 'Last year, the larvae were particularly exciting to spot,' she recalled. Although she hasn't discovered anything extraordinary this year so far, there are still three more days to go. M. Gowtham of Palluyir Trust, which is coordinating the CNC in Chennai this year, sees it as a unique opportunity to observe the often-overlooked aspects of nature. He visited the Kotturpuram Urban Forest and Adyar river trial this year. Gowtham, who will lead a walk at Chitlapakkam Lake, points out that there are many fascinating stories about smaller creatures, which rarely get the spotlight compared to larger animals. Harini also says, 'By taking the time to notice and observe our surroundings, we unlock an entirely different world. Only then can we realise how everything is interconnected and start thinking about conservation.' For Claudia, the exciting part of the challenge is joining fellow nature enthusiasts as part of a team. During her observations, she spotted several species, including the Portia tree, Bauhinia, two-tailed spider, lacewing eggs, short-horned grasshopper, Indian black ant, and the ant-mimic spider. Along the Adyar river, Claudia also heard the distinctive stridulation of crickets and managed to spot several individuals, which are typically difficult to find. She is eagerly anticipating a wasp walk with the Madras Naturalists Society later in the challenge. Through these walks and observations, participants are discovering how much nature thrives in urban spaces and, more importantly, learning how to protect and preserve it. The results of CNC will be announced on May 5.
