Notice to Tamil Nadu government, Centre on Jaya memorial at Marina

CHENNAI:The Tamil Nadu government and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in New Delhi are directed by the Madras High Court to file their replies by June 29 on a PIL petition challenging the order, dated March 16 last, of the member-secretary, TN State Coastal Zone Management Authority and the Director of Environment, granting permission to construct the memorial for former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, on the Marina beach.

The bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Asha gave the direction, when the PIL from advocate S Doraisamy came up on Monday.The bench also directed the duo to file their rejoinders to the counter and posted the matter for further hearing on July 13.

According to petitioner, the Marina beach having a length of 13 km, including a six-km  promenade, is considered as the world’s second longest urban beach. The March 16 order granting a CRZ clearance to the State PWD without obtaining any clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and from the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and Environmental Protection Rules, 1986, is illegal.

Within a period of two days, the permission had been granted to the PWD to construct the memorial in an area of 36,806 sq mts. The permission had been granted on the basis that the memorial site falls within Clause 8(II) CRZ II of the CRZ Notification 2011, whereas it falls within 8(I) CRZ I and hence the permission granted is illegal. There is no report from the authorised authority clarifying the area as CRZ II, petitioner contended and sought to quash the order.