7 February 2008

GOVERNMENT PERSISTENTLY VIOLATES CRZ NORMS

Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG) has issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu Government calling for an immediate cessation of construction activities for a massive bungalow allegedly being constructed for the Governor of the State on the Elliots Beach in Besant Nagar. This massive bungalow is being constructed at a rapid pace adjacent to the Planet Yumm restaurant on the southern end of the beach. It is not known what permissions have been obtained for this construction, when the State government has been leading a campaign against demolition of illegal constructions.

CAG has pointed out that the Elliots beach stretch is protected by the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 1991 and no such construction is permitted in this zone.

Reminding the government of the cruel lesson on the consequences of poor coastal environment protection that the tsunami taught us, CAG has asked the government to immediately stop the further destruction and privatisation of the beach, and called on them to take steps to protect the fragile coastal lands. The livelihood rights of fishing communities, already severely threatened due to increased illegal construction along the Chennai coast will further be impacted by the presence of high security on this portion of the beach.

CAG has also objected to another bungalow allegedly being constructed for the Hon’ble Governor, when the sprawling premises of the Raj Bhavan and another bungalow in Udhagamandalam are already at his Excellency’s disposal.

Calling upon the PWD, Chennai Corporation and the Environment department to stop the construction, CAG has demanded that the State government spend this money for protection of open spaces and coastal ecosystems like the beaches, and not waste it on constructions that further alienate the public from the government.