More than 15,000 buildings likely to be enumerated along the coastline

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

More than 15,000 buildings along the coastline are likely to be enumerated by Chennai Corporation for violation of Coastal Regulation Zone notification.

Sources told Express that Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority will furnish maps indicating the Coastal Regulation Zone areas.

Chennai Corporation will mark the CRZ areas in administrative zone map and furnish inventory of streets in each zone that fall in each division under the respective zone.

It is believed that arrangements are also being made to erect stone pillars or other suitable bench marks demarcating CRZ areas in andward side for easy identification of CRZ areas.

It is proposed that once the study is being completed by the consultant, it will be reviewed by coordination and review committee which would have Chennai Corporation Commissioner, CMDA member secretary, chief planner of Area Plans Unit, City engineer, Chennai Corporation, senior planner pf enforcement cell in CMDA and deputy planner (environment).

Source said the study will identify each building by its address, including door number and street with detailed coverage of the study area.

Sources said the need for a consultancy arose as the area to be surveyed was vast. “It is impossible to complete this exercise with in-house efforts of Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority due to lack of manpower in both the organisations.

Sources said the study would provide enumeration of existing buildings constructed after 1991 which will provide base data on the unauthorised buildings in the coastal area and enabe updation as well as enforcement action on a sustained manner.

It is learnt that after the study both Chennai Corporation as well as CMDA will be planning to create public awareness or campaign on different aspects of CRZ and to sensitise the public.

The objective is also to prevent unauthorised development in the coastal areas from coming up in future through sustained watch and vigilance and initiating enforcement action, the sources added