Rich, powerful bend CRZ norms

CHENNAI: Pressure from the powerful and influential property owners along the East Coast Road (ECR) had forced the CMDA to reclassify three villages on the coastline to subvert certain development norms, CMDA Chief Planner SR Rajendhiran revealed on Monday.

“We all know that VVIPs have houses and beach houses in areas along ECR. Because of that pressure we have brought Kottivakkam, Palavakkam and Neelangarai into Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) II from Zone III,” said Rajendhiran.

Rajendhiran’s comments came in response to a question from a member of the audience at a talk on CRZ organised by the Institution of Engineers. The question: is the ISKCON temple in Injambakkam in line with regulations as it was being constructed on lands that acted as a fresh water aquifer? CMDA Senior Planner S Selvakumar was also present.

The change of zoning of the above mentioned three fishing villages would make way for construction activity. Development on these lands was earlier prohibited as they are part of the groundwater aquifer, which is affected by tidal action. Following approval from the Centre in 2009, a CMDA authority meeting on January 19 last year resolved to reclassify the zoning of the three villages.

“There are many unauthorised constructions in that region. If anyone goes for a PIL, we will have to demolish a lot of buildings,” Rajendhiran acknowledged, stressing that this was not an invitation for people to file PILs.

Responding to a question from Express on the role of the CMDA in enforcing CRZ Notifications in the area, Rajendhiran said, “The Enforcement Cell of the CMDA has the authority to take direct action against offenders, but the cell is very small. We receive thousands of complaints everyday. The actual enforcement of the regulations has been delegated to local bodies, which are politically controlled, unlike the CMDA.”

Rajendhiran also acknowledged that there was a need to expand the CMDA’s Enforcement Cell to ensure the enforcement of regulations. “The CMDA is a young organisation. We are evolving and improving our systems everyday,” he said.