The Hindu : Front Page : 70% of buildings on ECR unauthorised

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Sunday, Apr 27, 2008
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70% of buildings on ECR unauthorised

A. Srivathsan

CHENNAI: More than 70 per cent of the buildings along the East Coast Road (ECR) are unauthorised, according to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) sources.

Since 1980 the CMDA has been refusing permission for development south of Thiruvanmiyur up to Semmancheri village, which marks the limit of the Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA). However, building construction and housing layout creation continue.

In 1980, the government prohibited construction and housing layouts along the ECR to protect the aquifer recharge potential on the stretch. Housing layouts permitted before 1980 were exempted. Since 1991, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification has added additional regulations to development within 500 metres from the High Tide Line (HTL).

From 2000 till 2006, the CMDA has been periodically informing the government that it is not able to implement the ban for various reasons. In 2005, the Directorate of Geology and Mining informed the State government that it had no objection to allowing construction along the ECR since it did not think it could exploit minerals on the coast any further.

In March 2007, the government lifted the ban and allowed construction with a few conditions. The order allowed multi-storied buildings beyond 500 m from the HTL. The floor space index (FSI), or maximum buildable area, was restricted to less than one, and ground coverage to less than 50 per cent of the plot area. It stipulated that special guidelines be framed for this stretch before permissions are given. It is a year since this order was issued but no guidelines are in place.

The new master plan has made provision to allow construction only on plots that are 4 grounds (9,600 sq ft) and more. The permissible FSI will be 0.8 and ground coverage will be restricted to 40 per cent. The maximum height is ground plus three floors.

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