Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding construction along the banks of the Tazhuthali Kuppam estuary, Mudaliyarkuppam village, Cheyyur taluk, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, 28/04/2023
Order of the National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone, Chennai) in the matter of Kannappan Vs The Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority & Others dated 28/04/2023.
Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation was directed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to remove the constructions put by them without any clearance from Mudaliyarkuppam village, Cheyyur taluk, Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu. The constructions included toilets, compound walls along the banks of the Tazhuthali Kuppam estuary in the area between the water body and the sea.
The existing thatched huts with concrete flooring can exist but further huts or permanent structures cannot be put up. Any intended construction or activity can be done only after getting the appropriate clearance from the Coastal Zone Management Authority and within the permitted zones as per the CRZ Notification, 2011, said the NGT, April 28, 2023.
The main objection of the applicants was that the Tazhuthali Kuppam estuary is near the Odiyur lagoon. A branch of the Buckingham canal branches from this estuary towards Marakanam. This area is ecologically sensitive as it is an important Olive Ridley Turtle nesting area. Further, the estuary is rich in mangroves, seagrass beds. Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation has not obtained CRZ clearance from the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority. The fishermen community is using a larger fishing net requires the entire beach front for the fishing purpose and it cannot be converted into tourism spot.
Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority informed the NGT that Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation is constructing various facilities such as toilets, huts with concrete flooring and pilling compound wall without any permission. No application was also made for CRZ clearance under the CRZ Notification, 2011.
The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation has admitted that the constructions were put by them without any proper clearance.