Kamal Haasan met locals to discuss the issue of encroachment at the Ennore creek.
Tamil Superstar Kamal Haasan today met local fishing communities at the Ennore creek, Chennai's largest estuary, which faces growing encroachment by industries raising the risk of a flood.
The veteran actor met locals early in the morning to discuss the issues they are facing as a result of encroachment and dumping of effluents by power plants and oil refineries.
Mr Haasan had yesterday warned of floods in Chennai in the monsoon if the state government failed to address the environmental crisis at the creek.
An environmental group campaigning for the cause had brought this issue to that actor's notice.
The Ennore creek, which drains the Kosthalaiyar River into the Bay of Bengal, plays an important role in Chennai's infrastructure for flood protection and water security. But the ecologically-sensitive zone is facing a serious crisis with pollutants from nearby northern Chennai thermal power station being dumped into it and as much as 1,000 acres of wetlands allegedly encroached. He also cited two oil refineries having put up their oil terminals on wetlands.
Kamal Haasan has warned of floods in Chennai in the monsoon if the environmental crisis at the creek is not addressed.
Mr Haasan, 62, has amped up criticism of the state government in recent months. He has been saying since July that he's ready to form his own political party. Last month, he said he will recruit "fresh, young faces" and crowd-source funds to ensure transparency, policies that he admits are inspired by the Aam Aadmi Party of Arvind Kejriwal with whom he met and had lunch at his home in Chennai a few weeks ago.
The actor has promised a big announcement on his birthday on November 7, suggesting that his political launch may be taking final shape.
In his weekly column, Kamal Haasan had also recommended Arappor Iyakkam a group that fights corruption. It appears the actor plans to rope in grassroot community groups as he prepares to make it before his political foray.