Activists say encroachments will harm endangered species
Illegal dumping of construction debris used for beach beautification project on Srinivasapuram-Santhome stretch
Chennai: Chennai corporation’s beach beautification measures and illegal construction of roads on beaches in the last five months have resulted in the diversion of more than 14 acres of beach land, says a report released by activists in the city. Further, the report says that 20 CRZ violations by the corporation had done irreparable damage to the environment. Activists say that in July this year the corporation dumped tonnes of granite boulders and construction debris on the Santhome-Pattinapakkam beach for the beach beautification project, costing roughly Rs 55 crore. The issue was brought to the notice of the commissioner and work was stalled, but the debris remains.
In the second instance, there was construction of concrete platforms with plastic chairs close to the water line at Neelankarai beach, and installation of four streetlights on the Southern side of Pallavakkam beach, which were subsequently removed. Environmental activist Nityanand Jayaraman adds, “Such construction is in violation of CRZ notification. And streetlights near the inter tidal zone also have the potential to harm the survival of Olive Ridley sea turtles hatchlings that emerge from nests in this area. Each violation results in the encroachment of the beach and significantly alters land use. In Chinna Neelankarai, roads, buildings and resorts were built on the landward side of the roads.”
Activists say that roads were permissible in hamlets if fisherfolk could use them. But they allege that a grander plan was in the pipeline, linking all these roads into a coastal thoroughfare.K. Sarvanan, member of Coastal Resource Centre, says, “The beach is livelihood space for fisherfolk like us. Encroachment on the sand will rob us of our livelihood and also harm endangered species like Olive Ridley.”
Nityanand adds, “The corporation of Chennai and the CMDA are responsible for regulating buildings. The State Coastal Zone Management Authority, which is supposed to permit or reject CRZ clearances for projects, is functioning without a proper coastal management plan that provides clear details about approved roads.”A senior corporation official when told about the violations perpetrated by the civic body said that he was not aware of them. “Once it is brought to our notice we will look into it,” he said.The activists will be submitting the report to the corporation commissioner and if no action was being initiated they would look for legal recourse.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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