Chennai: The Madras high court has ordered notice to government on a PIL seeking to constitute an expert committee to evaluate ecological and environmental damage to be caused by the proposed Chennai-Salem Greenfield Expressway.
The PIL moved by an advocate A. P. Suryaprakasam he sought the court to direct the central and the state government to appoint experts in the field of environment, ecology, water management and human resources, to study the ecological and environmental damages that would be caused on account of the land acquisition initiated for laying Chennai-Salem Greenfield corridor, before taking up land acquisition process.
A large number of several trees would be felled and water bodies would be filled up for laying the highway. Before undertaking such a massive road project, the government ought to have assessed the ecological and environmental affect.
He said the authorities had not engaged in discussion with all stakeholders before taking a policy decision. Hence, a direction must be issued to the government to conduct an impact study before proceeding further with the acquisition.
When the PIL came up for hearing before the division bench of Justice K K Sasidharan and R Subramanian on Friday, the bench ordered notice to the State government and directed the authorities to file reply before July 12.
Meanwhile, another petition has been filed by PMK’s office-bearer, Venkateswaran seeking direction to the authorities to permit the PMK MP Dr Anbumani Ramadoss to conduct public hearing in connection with the proposed project at Harur in Dharamapuri district. The MP had already conducted public hearing peacefully in Kancheepuram, Thiruvannamalai and Salem on June 26 and 17. The official had denied permission to him to conduct the meeting in Harur.
When the matter came up for hearing before Justice P.N Prakash on Friday, the judge directed the government to file reply before July 6 and adjourned the matter.
