Chennai Diverts 700 Vinayaka Idols to Ennore and Kovalam After CRZ Concerns

The Greater Chennai Corporation has decided to divert around 700 Vinayaka idols away from two of its designated immersion sites, following concerns over whether those locations are environmentally suitable.

Under the plan placed before the National Green Tribunal, 450 idols earlier proposed for immersion at Palavakkam will be moved to Kovalam, while 250 idols meant for Pattinapakkam will be taken to Ennore.

The civic body had initially identified Pattinapakkam, Thiruvottiyur, Kasimedu and Palavakkam as immersion points in the city. Questions were later raised before the Tribunal that some of these sites could fall within an area where coastal regulation zone rules prohibit such activity. The Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority was then asked to examine the matter and suggest alternative locations.

The Tribunal had observed that Pattinapakkam and Neelankarai fall within the CRZ-I area. The Corporation's decision followed discussions on what excluding those two sites would mean in practice.

In its report, the Corporation flagged the operational strain of shifting idols from the southern and central parts of the city to northern locations. Managing procession routes, vehicle movement, traffic, police deployment, public safety and emergency access could become difficult, it said. It also cautioned that a complete exclusion of the two locations could create law-and-order problems.

The Corporation said it will work with the Police Department and other agencies on traffic management, preventing overcrowding, ensuring safe immersion and clearing idol debris and solid waste once the ceremonies are over.

The Tribunal has directed strict compliance with Central Pollution Control Board guidelines and its own earlier orders, along with directions from the Supreme Court and the Madras High Court. It noted that coastal immersion sites require CRZ clearance from the State coastal zone authority, and that the mere presence of its officials at meetings cannot be treated as such clearance.

The State government has been asked to file an affidavit assuring compliance with these directions during next year's Vinayaka Chaturthi. The affidavit was not filed on Thursday, and the State sought time to submit it on Friday. The Tribunal ordered that its directions be followed strictly during this year's immersion as well.