Image Source: Times Of India
In an alarming move, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has begun constructing a 1.4 km road along the sands between Thiruvanmiyur and Kottivakkam beaches, just weeks after demolishing an illegal road built by encroachers at Besant Nagar beach. The new road, which is six meters wide and constructed with paver blocks, comes at a cost of ₹2 crore and is being laid without the necessary Coastal Regulation Zone-II (CRZ-II) clearance.
The six-meter-wide road, made of paver blocks, has raised eyebrows among environmentalists and officials alike. When GCC sought permission from the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNCZMA) on 31 August last year, they were asked to provide evidence of a pre-existing road before 1991, as stipulated by CRZ rules. However, GCC admitted in documents that no such proof existed.
Despite the lack of approval, former GCC commissioner J Radhakrishnan issued administrative sanction for the road’s construction on 3 November 2023. Officials claim the road was initiated due to pressure from VIPs and joggers in Palavakkam who desired a traffic-free stretch to Thiruvanmiyur, bypassing the busy East Coast Road (ECR).
Officials claim the road was initiated due to pressure from VIPs and joggers in Palavakkam who desired a traffic-free stretch to Thiruvanmiyur, bypassing the busy East Coast Road (ECR).
Critics argue that the new road primarily benefits encroachers who have constructed illegal structures along the beach, contributing to pollution and sand occupation. An unnamed official stated to TOI, “Various retired officials and businessmen living in Palavakkam made repeated requests to connect Palavakkam and Thiruvanmiyur through the beach.”
Ward 181’s Assistant Engineer Balsubramaniyam attempted to downplay concerns by claiming it’s only a temporary road that can be removed if authorities question its legality. However, environmental activist G Sundarrajan of Poovulagin Nanbargal criticized this stance, questioning the waste of public funds and the government’s role as a violator rather than a role model.
Zonal chairman S V Ravichandran defended the project, citing benefits for both locals and beachgoers. However, current GCC commissioner J Kumaragurubaran stated that nothing should be constructed without CRZ clearance and promised to investigate the matter, potentially removing the road if found non-compliant.
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