The Manali–Ennore belt in North Chennai is one of Tamil Nadu’s major industrial zones. It covers areas such as Manali, Chinnasekadu, Voiyakadu Sadayankuppam, Amullavoyal, Ennore and Ernavur in Tiruvottiyur Taluk.

This region houses

• Petrochemical units,
• TANGEDCO-linked thermal power infrastructure,
• Chemical industries,
• Fertilizer units and
• Port-linked industrial activity.

The presence of major power generation facilities, including the North Chennai Thermal Power Station operated by TANGEDCO, makes Ennore an important energy and industrial corridor. It is also well connected through Ennore High Road, National Highway 5A, Ennore Port and Tiruvottiyur Railway Station.

But the same region is also surrounded by important water bodies such as Ennore Creek, Buckingham Canal, Kosasthalaiyar River and Amullavoyal Canal. This makes Manali–Ennore both an industrial hub and an environmentally sensitive zone.

Why Ennore Creek Matters

Ennore Creek is an estuarine water body in North Chennai, stretching for around 25 km through urban and industrial areas. It plays an important role in drainage, fishing livelihoods, ecology and flood management.

Ideally, the presence of large water bodies should help in draining floodwater. But the region continues to face flooding due to poor drainage planning, encroachments, inadequate stormwater systems and industrial pressure.

This is why any pollution in Ennore is not only an environmental issue. It directly affects residents, fishermen, local property use, land safety and long-term development planning.

What Is the Fly Ash Problem in Ennore?

Fly ash is a fine grey residue produced when coal is burnt in thermal power plants. If it is not safely handled, stored and transported, it can settle on homes, roads, water bodies and open land.

In Ennore, residents have complained for years that fly ash from thermal power operations has polluted the surrounding areas, including water bodies and residential pockets. The latest reports say residents near Ennore continue to face fine dust, blackish-grey deposits, breathing discomfort and polluted surroundings despite earlier complaints and official assurances.

The problem is especially serious because fly ash has reportedly accumulated in and around the Kosasthalaiyar backwaters, Buckingham Canal and Ennore Creek region, affecting both health and fishing livelihoods.

Previous Complaints and Legal Action

The Ennore fly ash issue is not new. Complaints related to ash dumping and leakage from the North Chennai Thermal Power Station have been raised for several years.

In earlier legal proceedings, concerns were raised about alleged illegal dumping of ash into Buckingham Canal and nearby backwaters, along with the need to stop discharge and assess environmental damage.

NGT had directed TANGEDCO to replace damaged ash slurry pipelines, use only completed/replaced pipelines for ash transport until other lines were finished, assess soil/water/ecological damage, prepare remediation plans, and remove deposited fly ash

Reports and public discussions have also linked the issue to loss of wetlands, damage to Ennore Creek and long-term harm to local fishing communities. Environmental groups have repeatedly argued that the creek has been affected by fly ash deposits, industrial pollution and encroachments.

What Measures Have Been Taken?

Some corrective steps have been initiated. ¹Dredging work has reportedly started in the Ennore creek backwaters to remove fly ash deposits. The Water Resources Department began clearing fly ash sediments from a stretch between the North Chennai Thermal Power Station and Kamarajar Port, where ash deposits had reportedly accumulated up to nearly one metre in depth.

The Tamil Nadu government has also moved toward broader restoration through the Manali–Ennore Restoration and Rejuvenation Council / Company, which has been set up to improve livelihoods and restore ecological balance in the Manali–Ennore region.

The council is expected to focus on restoration works such as waterbody rejuvenation, greening, pollution control, mangrove restoration, desilting, solid waste management and community infrastructure improvements.

TANGEDCO claims that 12.39 lakh tonnes of ash have been removed in phases, all ash pipelines have been replaced, and only recovery water pipelines remain old. But residents and activists say clearance is incomplete and the ash dyke still causes seepage because of lack of proper lining.

What Is the Problem Now?

The main issue now is that residents say the cleanup is still incomplete.

Even if some dredging and ash removal have started, local communities continue to report dust, health discomfort and visible ash deposits.

Residents and activists say: the old pollution is still physically present, ash remains in floodplains and water bodies, health complaints continue, fishing livelihoods are affected, and remediation is still incomplete.

The residents are demanding stronger action, faster cleanup and better accountability.

In nearby Seppakkam, around 200 residents have reportedly been waiting for relocation because of severe pollution and unsafe living conditions near the fly ash pond.

So the present concern is not only about fresh pollution. It is also about old accumulated fly ash, delayed remediation, incomplete restoration, health impact and the long-term safety of people living near industrial and waterbody zones.

Why This Matters for Real Estate and Land Buyers

For property buyers, builders and investors, Ennore is a reminder that land safety is not limited to title, patta or EC checks. In industrial belts, a property may still carry risks linked to polluted water bodies, ash ponds, thermal plants, flood-prone zones, drainage issues, zoning restrictions and nearby government restoration or acquisition plans. Verified.RealEstate’s LandLens can help identify these risks early by checking land records, aquifier zones, zoning, flood exposure, road access, approvals and surrounding environmental red flags before a purchase or project decision is made.

The Larger Lesson from Ennore

The Ennore fly ash crisis shows that industrial growth without strong environmental safeguards can create long-term damage for residents, water bodies and local livelihoods.

For North Chennai, the need is clear: faster cleanup, transparent monitoring, proper dredging, stricter pollution control and stronger planning around water bodies.

For property buyers and developers, the lesson is equally clear: environmental due diligence should become part of every serious land and project evaluation.

1. Dredging means removing accumulated mud, silt, sand, or fly ash from the bottom of a river, canal, lake, or waterbody to restore depth and flow. ↩︎