Fate of former TN CM kin's auditorium hangs in balance

Construction of Muthamizh Peravai auditorium
carried out in deviation of approved plan

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

The fate of Muthamizh Peravai Charitable Trust auditorium in Adyar, which belongs to a close relative of former chief minister M Karunanidhi, hangs in balance as Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority has yet to give a completion certificate and the construction was carried out in deviation of the approved plan, according to sources.

CMDA sources told Express that the construction of Rs 4 crore auditorium building in Mylapore with ground floor plus first floor was done in deviation to the approved plan and after a Stop Work Notice, the Trust has not applied for Completion Certificate.

 Sources said that building got the state coastal zone management authority clearance after the Centre, which had earlier stated that the building requires prior clearance under Coastal Regulation Zone 2011, revised its stance stating that CRZ rule provision is not applicable for considering the proposed new construction of Muthamizh Mandram.

Interestingly on August 2, when the building was inspected by CMDA officials it was found out that the site dimension in the eastern side of the building is in excess of 3.28 metre and in the western side, the site dimension is in excess of 4.91 metre over the dimensions given in the approved plan.

The area shown as open terrace and the space for air-conditioning unit in the first floor as per the approved plan is covered by extending the built up space as regular floor use which will add up to the floor space index area, sources said. Similarly, a portion in the north-eastern corner of the building shown as VIP entry as open area as per the approved plan is covered now in the ground floor. This portion also adds up to the total floor area.

Similarly, the depth of front portico has been extended by 1.5 meter. A new gate that was not provided as per the approved plan is provided in the western side to access the internal road of public works department land area, sources added. Even the location of ramp for the physically challenged persons is changed from eastern side as given in the approved plan to the northern side.

“Due to the provision of the new gate and change of location of ramp from east to north, parking of vehicle in four slots provided as parking slot is not feasible. This violated development regulation,” sources said.

There were also setback violations and as such a Stop Work Notice was issued on August 3, 2011 and the construction work was stopped. Although the Trust vowed to apply for the completion certificate again but till now it has failed to do so putting the fate of the auditorium in jeopardy, source said.

The DMK government on June 26, 2009 has passed an order allotting the land to the Peravai and a lease deed was executed in September, 2009 for 30 years