Residents oppose expansion of Chennai Metropolitan Area

Prinicipal Secretary Rajesh Lakhoni, right, also Member Secretary, CMDA, with S. Krishnan, Prinicipal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, at a public hearing in the Ripon Buildings on Monday.

Prinicipal Secretary Rajesh Lakhoni, right, also Member Secretary, CMDA, with S. Krishnan, Prinicipal Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, at a public hearing in the Ripon Buildings on Monday.   | Photo Credit: R_Ragu

Say govt. is inducing urbanisation and it could spell disaster

A cross-section of residents has opposed the proposed ‘expansion’ of the Chennai Metropolitan Area, claiming that the government was planning to induce urbanisation in the region, destroying several ecological hotspots and around 4,200 waterbodies.

At a workshop on ‘Expansion of Chennai Metropolitan Area’ organised on Monday in Ripon Buildings — the headquarters of Greater Chennai Corporation — residents from various neighbourhoods voiced their opinion to drop the plan to expand the Chennai Metropolitan Area.

Charu Govindan, a resident, said the rising pollution levels on the Marina beach indicated the failure of urban planning by the CMDA. She said the residents were sceptical about the ability of CMDA to plan facilities for the expanded area.

Water management expert S. Janakarajan said urbanisation is not a two-way traffic. “Once you urbanise you cannot de-urbanise,” he said. Pointing to the 4,200 waterbodies in the area, he stressed on the need for understanding the importance of the hydrological aspects and microclimate of such waterbodies and ecological hotspots before any proposal to expand the area is advanced. He said elevation mapping is the key, in the context of the 2014 floods, which was a man-made disaster.

Jayaram Venkatesan of Arapoor Iyakkam alleged that a political decision has been made to urbanise the area with an eye on gains made by corrupt practices.

Architect Tara Murali said the CMDA should demystify the proposals for better understanding by the people. “It is induced urbanisation. The word ‘expansion’ is misleading,” she contended.

“If it is expansion of the city, it should be stopped. Kancheepuram qualifies for an agricultural zone. It should not be carried away by land promoters,” said Natarajan, representing the Institution of Engineers. Ram Prabhu, a stakeholder, said road level data has to be compiled similar to cities such as Mumbai. “The Housing Board should be prevented from developing layouts in lake areas in the expanded area,” he suggested. However, senior bureaucrats were flummoxed after some residents raised objections without an understanding of the process.

Allaying concerns raised by the residents, Housing and Urban Development Secretary S.Krishnan said what has been announced is only ‘a statement of intent of the government.’ “The intent of the government has been communicated. The government has not taken the final decision. Our intention is not to allow unbridled urbanisation. We have to create a legal system, rules, incentive structure to ensure alternative land uses that are viable. It is a strategic regional plan. We will keep the consultative process going,” said Mr.Krishnan.

CMDA urban planners said a study was under way to develop an exclusive transport corridor (160 km road and 170 km rail) covering the four zones of Gummidipoondi, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu.

CMDA Member Secretary Rajesh Lakhoni said the capacity enhancement of CMDA will be given importance before formulating the strategic regional plan.