Chennai: Observing that hundreds and hundreds of buildings came into existence on a ‘No Development Zone’ very close to Bay of Bengal and most of the buildings are also stated to be unauthorized, the Madras high court has directed the Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, Member Secretary, CMDA, Principal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development and Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply department to be present in the court on December 17 for rendering necessary assistance to the court.
A division bench comprising Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and N.Seshasayee gave the directive while passing interim orders on a batch of petitions, which sought a direction to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority and the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority to consider re-classification of Akkarai village and Sholinganallur panchayat on the ECR as areas under CRZ-II as per the guidelines contained in the Government of India notification dated February 19, 1991.
Observing that the constant statutory entities/officials had totally abrogated the duties and responsibilities and the only duty was rather respond to aid and abet the unauthorized constructions, the bench imposed a cost of Rs 25,000 each on the Greater Chennai Corporation and CMDA, which would be utilized for the purpose of basic amenities to the corporation schools run by municipal corporations.
Pointing out that the buildings very close to Bay of Bengal were also granted permission by the authorities to construct super structures and electricity connections and basic amenities, which was a No Development Zone, the bench directed a person who built some boulders to prevent sea waves, to file a compliance report with an undertaking not to put any boulders or any other sea waves protecting mechanism in place.
The bench also directed the authorities to disconnect the electricity connection and water connection to the building.
The bench also directed the Deputy Director of Town and Country Planning to cause inspection of the premises once again after giving notice to the parties and find out whether the super structure has been put up strictly in accordance with the sanctioned plan granted by the local body with the aid and assistance of Coastal Regulatory Zone Management Authority and the jurisdictional PWD of Coastal wing.
