Chennai Beaches Restoration Project:
Chennai Metropolitan Development Corporation has decided to implement a project called Chennai Beaches Restoration and Renewal Project to improve 20 beaches from Ennore to Kovalam like Chennai Marina Beach.
Through this project, it was planned to establish various facilities including public entertainment and open-air park cultural program grounds, sea view bridge, amphitheater seats, water sports, bicycle track, car parking, footpath, wooden bridge in coastal areas.
Apart from this, considering the development of the coastal community, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Committee informed that the fishermen community hall, sea erosion protection wall and fish food sales halls will be set up in order to ensure employment and economic development for the fishermen.
Complaint to Green Tribunal:
In this situation, a complaint was filed in the South Zone Green Tribunal on behalf of the fishermen against CMDA’s involvement in beautifying the Chennai Engambakkam beach as part of this project.
Ban on CMDA:
Also, in the wake of reports that sand leveling work is being done in turtle breeding areas on the Enchampakkam beach for this project, the Southern Regional National Green Tribunal has come forward and taken up the case. In this situation, the fishermen are also suing against the construction in the coastal areas of Engambakkam and Akkarai.
A bench of Southern Zone Green Tribunal comprising Justice Pushpa Satyanarayana and Member Satya Gopal has ordered the CMDA to implement the project without obtaining permission from the Coastal Regulatory Zone and the Union Ministry of Environment.
