The Hindu : Front Page : Beach tennis court work stopped

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Beach tennis court work stopped

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Work on the tennis courts close to the shore on Elliot’s Beach was stopped on Monday by Chennai Corporation officials.

After The Hindu highlighted the development of tennis courts in violation of Coastal Regulation Zone rules, the officials around 9 a.m. pulled down the poles erected around the designated court area by workers of Match Point Tennis Academy. They also dug out the beach surface which had been levelled with debris and clay.

Corporation Zonal officer K. Sampath said that the materials used for developing the courts had been seized and it would take two or three more days to clear the area. “We will refill the beach surface with sand and restore it to its original condition,” he said.

Chennai Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni told The Hindu that the cost of beach restoration work would be recovered from the academy. “We have already served them a notice on Monday,” he said. The action was initiated since the academy did not consult the concerned government agency, the Public Works Department, before proceeding with the work.

Environmental activist Nityanand Jayaraman welcomed the quick response from the civic body.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page