CMDA plans to permit residential activities in industrial zones

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority is planning to permit residential activities in industrial use zone under special sanction without addressing Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board concerns.

It is learnt CMDA  has appointed a committee of senior officers (CSO) who are studying ways to encourage mixed development in the industrial zone. CMDA feels this could reduce travel and at the same time preserve environmental compatibility and protect infrastructure if any created with public investment for industrial purposes.

Interestingly, one of the recommendations by the committee suggested that TNPCB need not be addressed while permitting residential activities on industrial use zone. Sources said the decision also comes in the wake of committee examining proposals along the stretch of Thiruneermala-Thirumudaivakam which have been zoned for industrial use in Second Master Plan.

M G Devashayam, managing trustee of Citizens Alliance for Sustainable Living (Sustain) and Monitoring committee member said the move could dilute land use zoning under the Second Master Plan. As per the second master plan land has been zoned to segregate certain uses particularly hazardous and environmentally unsuitable uses from other urban uses of work, housing and recreation to reduce the effect of negative externalities.

Interestingly, an office order signed by then member secretary Dayanand Kataria last year stated that while according special sanction, the remarks of TNPCB on the degree of pollution and nuisance should be obtained. Green activists claim the area, which has been zoned for industrial use under Second Master plan, is highly polluted and not suitable for residential activity.

 However, it is argued that SIDCO is under process of acquiring lands for future industrial development and that the private developers had purchased the land in the stretch with intention develop residential projects and these lands in any way will not be available for industrial development. But Deivasahayam says it is illegal on the part of the CMDA to accord special sanction to dilute the second master plan. “This requires a lengthy process. Public consultation should be held. One can’t simply accord special sanction permitting a industrial zone to be used for residential purposes,” he added.

 The panel has suggested that restricted areas where no industry is existing and areas is predominantly developed as residential area (even if its unauthorized), residential use may be permitted.

The committee also suggested that residential activity should be discouraged in the sites abutting major industrial corridors or industrial areas such as IT corridor, Poonamallee bypass, Mount-Poonamallee High Road, GNT Road, Manali, Chinna Sekkadu and Thiruvottiyur belt.