Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Centre prohibits demolition without consent, Govt. silent

By Feroze Ahmed and Shonali Muthalaly

By Feroze Ahmed and

Shonali Muthalaly

CHENNAI APRIL 23. Though the Union Environment Ministry's notification on coastal regulations, issued yesterday, effectively challenges two of the State's most prestigious projects along the Marina — new Secretariat complex and beautification of the beach — , the Government has maintained a silence on the developments.

State officials, who claimed they received a copy of the document only this evening, sought to play down the developments, saying the notification, in effect, only sought to regulate permissible activities. The State Environment Secretary took off for New Delhi today, but officials said it was not related to the developments.

However, the Forest and Environment Minister, R.Vaithilingam, claimed he had not received a copy of the notification yet, and the Government could take a decision only after it obtained a copy.

With yesterday's notification, the Centre has taken away from the State its authority on certain coastal developments. It widened the list of permissible but regulated works which would require environmental clearance from the MoEF, lists demolition or reconstruction of specific important buildings along coastal areas as requiring its permission, and states that activities along the shore over Rs.5 crores would need the its consent, restoring the pre-1997 status.

The State would now require the Ministry's consent not only for the plan to build a new Secretariat on the rubbles of the Queen Mary's College, but also for the Marina beautification project, for which it had signed an MoU with the Malaysian Government early this year.

After the signing ceremony, the Malaysian Minister for Works, S. Samy Vellu, said that the beautification project would cover 1.5-km stretch in the Santhome area and include construction of shoreline complexes to provide office accommodation for multinationals and embassies. It would also involve shifting of fishing hamlets along the beach.

Students elated

There was a sense of celebration and relief at the QMC itself. Now that their college buildings do not seem to be in any immediate danger of being pulled down, students are concentrating on preparing for their examinations, which were postponed again to May 29.

An upbeat Archana Kanthan, student president, said all the girls were now aware of the notification. "Everyone was rejoicing in class. There were so many rumours going around till now. But we are finally at peace and are able to concentrate on our studies."

"We had department farewell parties today for final year students," another student said. "We hope there's nothing to worry about anymore and life will be normal again."

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