State seeks clarity on clearance for shoreline development plan

THE state government is likely to file a miscellaneous application in the National Green Tribunal, seeking clarification whether approval from the union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) is required for its Comprehensive Shoreline Development Plan (CSDP).

- C SHIVAKUMAR

NGT had ruled that the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) cannot continue with the CSDP without getting approval from MoEFCC, in a case challenging the works being done as part of the Chennai Shoreline Renourishment and Revitalization (CSSR) Projects Limited, a special purpose vehicle that was launched to carry out various works on the Marina to Kovalam stretch at a cost of ₹100 crore.

NGT had passed an order to halt the project based on a suo motu case that raised concerns on the levelling of coastal dunes in Injambakkam as part of the project. CMDA had denied allegations about levelling dunes.