Ditching Twitter activism, Kamal Haasan visits Ennore creek

For the first time, actor Kamal Haasan, who has announced his plan to enter politics, ditched his Twitter jibes, to meet local fishing communities at Ennore Creek on Saturday. This creek is Chennai's largest estuary and is encroached by industries, raising a serious flood threat to the city.

Fisherfolk and residents of Kattukuppam and Sepakkam near Ennore were taken by surprise on early on Saturday, when the veteran actor visited their areas and enquired about the problems they are facing due to the encroachments and consequent dumping of effluents by power plants and oil refineries.

Haasan, on Friday, warned of floods in Chennai in the monsoons if the state government failed to remove the encroachments from the creek. The veteran actor, accompanied by environmental activist Nityanand Jayaraman, members of Coastal Resource Centre (CEC) and fisherfolks, visited the affected creek and Kosasthalaiyar River dotted with industries, including three thermal power plants and the Kamarajar port.

In the three-hour-long tour that began at 6 am, the actor was shown the state of the Kosasthalaiyar River, close to the estuary. Haasan was shocked by the extent of damage and pollution at the creek, which he frequented earlier during shoots, Nityanand said. "The actor recalled how he was made to jump from the railway bridge across the creek by his mentor K Balachander for a scene while shooting Telugu movie Maro Charitra in the 1970s. In those days, the water used to be pollution free and it was deep," Haasan told Nityanand.

Haasan interacted with residents of Seppakkam affected by fly ash dumped by the thermal power plants and fisherfolks of Kattukupam. "Fisherfolk explained the impact of the encroachments and dumping of pollutants on their livelihood, as well as the threat of flood to North Chennai," he said.

His support for the cause comes after the CEC approached him and other political party leaders to seek support for their campaign to save Ennore Creek. On October 25, CPI (M) State SG Ramakrishnan visited the creek and other affected areas.

His visit evoked the response of Union Minister of State for shipping to Tamil Nadu fisheries D Jayakumar. He asked the actor to tour the entire state to help eradicate dengue. Jayakumar who had severely criticised the actor for his anti-government tweets , and said that anyone could visit and review a place.

In recap mode

Kamal Haasan recalled how he was made to jump from the railway bridge across the creek by his mentor K Balachander for a scene while shooting Telugu movie Maro Charitra in the 1970s. In those days, the water used to be pollution free and it was deep, he said.