Genesis of the Poonga Trust

The Government of Tamil Nadu initiated an ambitious project to restore the ecological balance in the Creek and the Estuary area extending initially to about 58 acres. Initially spearheaded by the Chennai Corporation and supported by Tamil Nadu Road Development Company Ltd, TNRDC, this project was conceived primarily as an effort to restore the fragile Eco-system of the precious endangered wetland habitat of the Adyar Estuary and Creek and raise awareness of the general public to environmental issues.

To effect the above, the State Government vide G.O.Ms.No.117 Municipal Administration and Water Supply, dated 11.10.2006, formed a Trust under the name of “Adyar Poonga Trust” interalia with the objective of developing, maintaining and serving an eco park by name “Adyar Poonga” and to create such other systems for the restoration of the Adyar Creek and the Estuary area. A deed of declaration of Trust was also executed. 

Composition of the Trust: 

The Chief Secretary is the Chairman of the trust while the Secretaries to the Government in the Finance Department, Municipal Admn. & Water Supplies, MAWS Department, Highways Department, Public Works Department and Environment and Forest Department as well the Commissioner of Chennai Corporation are the Ex-officio Trustees of the Trust. 

Main Objectives

1) To formulate, undertake, implement, set up, upgrade, preserve, upkeep, collect user fees and maintain Eco parks in the State of Tamil Nadu, with a view to restoring the Biological diversity. This will be through improving and developing sites/areas/spots/places as wetlands, lakes, ponds, fresh water and saline water eco systems, water bodies, forests, recreational parks, gardens, animal farms, aquariums, bio resource centers etc and landscaping places in order to protect and re-establish the flora and fauna, as well as vegetative elements such as trees, shrubs, lianas, epiphytes, herbs and tuberous species.

2) To plan, formulate, support, implement, create and promote awareness of the fascinating ecology of the Eco parks and raise consciousness amongst users and General Public about environmental issues and the need for protection and maintenance of bio diversity and the environment through various measures like improving and maintaining ground water, waste water management, rain water harvesting, and various anti pollution measures etc;

3) To encourage and promote education to children of the ecological system and diverse environmental issues, currently available species of lives in water and land, plants and trees through interactive gardens, park or amusement park;

4) To build, develop, operate and maintain sanctuaries, leisure parks, amusement parks, theme parks, jungle paradise, ponds and water bodies, ethno medical gardens and forest with a wide variety of species reflecting the values of healing plants in de-stressing and rejuvenation of health;

5) To act, function and operate as Asset Manager, Fund Manager, Managing Associate, Development Partner, Operating Agent etc and earn fees, remuneration, commission, centage, charges etc for the services rendered to meet the expenses incidental to achieving the objectives;

The objects incidental or ancillary to the attainment of main objects are:-

1) To create and maintain working models of an environmentally sustainable systems for water collection, preservation and maintenance in the form of ponds, lakes, channels, water ways etc;

2) To plant, grow, maintain and preserve the rare species of herbs, medicinal plants and trees etc to reflect the environment friendly atmosphere for rejuvenating the system;

3) To establish and run medicinal and fragrant gardens and parks etc with special Braille signage for the visually impaired and physically challenged people to provide the unique experience of hearing, feeling, touching, tasting and seeing parts of such special plants;

4) To promote generating energy from renewable energy sources in order to reduce the depletion of natural wealth and imbalance in ecology caused by it;

5) To enter into any contracts for achieving the objectives of the company from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as may be thought expedient;

6) To incur debts for the conduct of any business of company and to purchase or hire goods, material or machinery on credit or otherwise for purpose of the company and /or for any other business. 

7) To call for tenders and award contracts, sub-contracts and licenses in relation to the objectives or business herein mentioned or any of them and to undertake, execute carryout, dispose of or otherwise turn to account the same;

8) To enter into any arrangement with any Government, Central, State, Local authority, municipal, or body corporate, firm, Trust or person that may seek conducive the company’s objects or any of them, and to obtain from any such Government authority, body corporate, firm or person, any grants, subsidies, loans, indemnities, protections, charters, contracts, licenses, powers and privileges whatsoever, which the company may think it desirable to obtain and to carry out, exercise and comply with the same;

9) To sublet all or any contracts from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as may be thought expedient 

10) To borrow or raise money on interest or otherwise in such manner as the company may think fit (without doing banking business within the meaning of the Banking Regulation Act 1949) and in particular by issue of debentures, bonds or other instruments whether it is convertible into shares of the company or not, or perpetual annuities and in security of any such money so borrowed, raised or received mortgage, pledge or charge the whole or any property belonging to the company, present or future, including its uncalled capital by special assignment or otherwise or to transfer or convey the same absolutely or in trust except uncalled capital and to give the lenders, powers of sale and other powers as may seem expedient and to purchase, redeem or pay off any such secutiries;

11) To insure any of the properties, undertakings, contracts, guarantees or obligations of the Company of every nature and kind in any manner whatsoever.

12) To sell or dispose of the undertaking of the company or any part thereof for such consideration as the company may think fit, and in particular for shares, debentures, or securities of any other company having objects altogether or in part similar to those of the company.

13) To pay out of the funds of the Company all expenses which the Company may lawfully pay with respect to the formation and registration of the Company or the issue of its capital, including brokerage and commission for obtaining applications for or taking, placing or underwriting or procuring the underwriting of shares, debentures or other securities of the Company.

14) To subscribe, contribute, pay, transfer or guarantee money for or to dedicate, donate, present or otherwise dispose of either voluntarily or for value, any moneys or properties of the Company to or for the benefit of any national, charitable, benevolent, religious, scientific, public, local, general or useful objects, purposes or institutions or to or for any exhibition or for any purpose which may be considered likely directly or indirectly to further the objects of the company or the interests of its members. No contribution/donation shall, however, be made to any political party or for any political purpose.

15) To guarantee the payment of money unsecured or secured by or payable under or in respect of promissory notes, bonds, debentures, debenture-stock, contracts, mortgages, charges, obligations, instruments and securities of any company or of any authority, supreme, municipal, local or otherwise or of any persons whomsoever whether incorporated or not incorporated, and generally to guarantee or become sureties for the performance of any contracts or obligations.

16) To dedicate, present, or otherwise dispose of either voluntarily or for value any property of the Company deemed to be national, public or local interest, to any national trust, public body, museum, corporation or authority or any trustees for or on behalf of any of the same or of the public.

17) To open an account or accounts with any individual, firm or company or with any Bank and to pay into, withdraw money from such account or accounts.

18) To do all or any of the above things and all, such other things as are incidental or may be thought conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them, in any part of the world, as principal agents, contractors and/or otherwise, and by or through trustees, agents or otherwise and alone or in conjunction with others, subject to law of land in force. 

TNUIFSL/PFC/PMC - Setup 

The Board of Trustees, by a resolution dated 21.11.2006 appointed the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Ltd., Chennai (TNUIFSL) to identify and engage necessary consultants in the preparation of a concept/master plan, detailed planning and to invite competitive bidders for the development of the Eco-park. TNUIFSL were also deputed to prepare an inventory of flora and fauna of the project area.

Accordingly M/s.Pitchandikulam Forest Consultants, Auroville, an organization of international repute exclusively involved in the Eco-restoration projects were appointed as consultants for developing a Master plan and other related activities. The Chief Architect of this consultancy group viz. Mr Joss Brooks, is an international acclaimed afforestation and ecology consultant. 

There are several reputed specialist Consultants working on this Project with PFC in the fields of Water management, Flora and Fauna habitat mapping, Wetland ecology, Social Impact Studies, Architecture and Landscaping. They are Centre for Environmental Science, Anna University, Atree (Bangalore), Idea Design (Cochin), House of Consultants, (Bangalore), Aurore (Auroville).