Survey to identify unauthorised constructions along Chennai coast fails to take offf

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and Chennai Corporation have yet to conduct a survey identifying unauthorised constructions violating Coastal Regulation Zone notification.

The survey was proposed on August last year as the government sought a report identifying violations under CRZ notification 1991 and details of action taken as per Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority.

The survey was to be conducted by Chennai Corporation, CMDA and local bodies and the focus was to be on colleting details including permission granted and unauthorised constructions or developments.

CMDA sources told Express that a draft Terms of Reference (TOR) was prepared but corporation has yet to zero in on consultants to conduct the study.

As per the draft regulations, the coastal regulation zone comprises of coastal stretches of seas, bays which are influenced by tidal action in the landward side up to 500 metres from the high tide line (HT) and estuaries, creeks, rivers and waters which are influenced by tidal action in the landward side up to 100 metres from the high tide line. The land between low tide line and high tide line have been declared as Coastal Regulation Zone.

Development in these area have to be regulated under CRZ classifications and regulations notified by Union government under section 3 of Environment (protection) Act 1986.

In Chennai Metroplitan Area, the total area covered in CRZ area on the sea coast is 31 square kilometres and areas covered along estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters attracting CRZ provisions is 109.89 square kilometres.

The coastal stretch in CMA falls under two categories --- Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) II and CRZ III. The old city limit, Kathivakkam, Thiruvottiyur, Kottivakam, Palavakkam, Neelangarai fall under CRZ-II and Inambakkam, Shollinganallur and Uthandi fall under CRZ-III.

Besides, the development that comes withn 100 metres distance from water course – Cooum and Adyar upto a distance specified from their mouth in the sea coast for each water and throughout the length of Buckingham Canal has to satisfy CRZ regulations.

Interestingly, the entire coastal stretch within Chennai Metropolitan Area is now under Chennai Corporation but it does not have any detail relating to the list of authorised and unauthorised structures. As a result enumeration of buildings within the Coastal Regulations Zone has to be carried out.

CMDA says that it is Chennai Corporation which has to float the tender. CMDA sources say it is likely that after the elections the consultant would be announced and work would begin. “The stretch is a large one, it may take an additional consultant also,” a CMDA official said.

Factfile:

--- CRZ comprises of coastal stretches of seas, bays which are influenced by tidal action in landward side upto 500 metres from high tide line

--- It also includes estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters which are influenced by tidal action in the landward side up to 100 metres from high tide line.

---  The land between low tide line and high tide line have been declared coastal regulation zone

--- Chennai Metropolitan Area falls under CRZ-II and CRZ-III

--- Old City Limit, Kathivakkam, Thiruvotiyur, Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelangarai fall under CRZ II

---- Injambakkam, Sholinganallur and Uthandi fall under CRZ – III

--- In CMA, the total area covered in CRZ area is 31 square km and areas covered along estuaries, creeks, rivers and back waters attracting CRZ provision is 109.89 square km