Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Launches New Online Portal to Simplify Waterbody Restoration Approvals

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay introduced the 'Eri' portal on Tuesday to help non-profit groups and volunteers apply online for permits to repair and clean local waterbodies.

Portal Details

Built by the Water Resources Department, the website lives at eri.tn.gov.in and lists over one lakh waterbodies managed by five different state departments. Groups can use the platform to ask for permission to clear out silt, fix broken bunds, and carry out other small repair tasks using corporate social responsibility funds.

Approval Process

This digital system replaces the old method of filing paper forms in person across multiple government offices. Officials plan to review valid requests and issue approvals within fifteen days. The Chief Engineer and Director of the State Water Resources Management Agency will act as the nodal officer to manage the review process and coordinate with different departments. During the launch event in Chennai, the Chief Minister handed out the first batch of permits to several groups, including Siruthuli, Environmental Foundation of India, Exnora International Foundation, Mega Foundation, and Dhan Foundation. Several senior ministers and top bureaucrats also attended the event.

Context

Online clearance portals are increasingly used by state governments to cut down red tape and speed up public works carried out with private funding. Streamlining permissions across multiple departments helps volunteers start environmental projects much faster without getting stuck in bureaucratic delays.