The Chennai Corporation has sent circulars to all zones in the city stressing the need for vigil against violations in Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) and aquifer recharge areas. This is in response to allegations of violations in many of the 15 zones in the city.
According to the CRZ notification dated January 6, 2011, by the ministry of environment and forests, any development or redevelopment in CRZ-II such as Tiruvottiyur, Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Teynampet, Adyar, Perungudi and Sholinganallur, shall continue to be undertaken in accordance with the norms laid down in the Town and Country Planning Regulations of February 19, 1991.
The liberalised norms of development according to the second master plan of Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) will not be applicable in CRZ-II that include developed areas in zones close to the shore. Most structures permitted by the Corporation in CRZ-II are ordinary buildings. According to the second master plan of CMDA, there is variation in permissible limits of plot coverage, parking norms and Floor Space Index (FSI) exemption because of liberalisation of norms.
However, development in CRZ-II and aquifer recharge areas of Kottivakkam, Palavakkam and Neelankarai has to be in accordance with stringent norms in existence before February 19, 1991. The three areas have strict restrictions including a limit of 40 per cent plot coverage.
Four other areas of Injambakkam, Sholinganallur, Karapakkam and Uthandi are also part of aquifer recharge areas located to the east of Buckingham canal with a permissible FSI of 0.8.
For CRZ-II from Ennore to Tiruvanmiyur, the plot coverage permitted is 65 per cent. Development of ordinary buildings in areas other than CRZ has a permissible limit of 75 per cent plot coverage and an FSI of 1.5.
Land and water bodies falling under CRZ-I are critically vulnerable and declared no-development zones including tide-influenced water bodies like backwaters, creeks, estuaries and mangrove forests. CRZ-II includes areas that have been developed up to or close to the shoreline
CRZ-III includes areas along the coast that have been relatively undisturbed. CRZ-IV covers the area from the low tide line to 12 nautical miles into the sea.
