Tamil Nadu: Karunanidhi Pen Memorial Gets Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Clearance

The Union Ministry of Environment has granted Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance to the Karunanidhi Pen Memorial to be constructed in the sea near Chennai's Marina Beach.

It has stipulated 15 specific conditions and certain general conditions for the project. Some of the conditions include prohibition of construction activities during the turtle nesting period, obtaining a no-objection certificate from INS Adyar and monitoring of erosion and accretion in the area.

A letter dated 19 June from the Union Ministry of Environment stated that the CRZ clearance was granted on the basis of recommendations of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) dated 17 April 2023 and the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNCZMA) dated 6 April 2023.

It added that the final clearance was subject to the final order of the National Green Tribunal (south zone) and the Supreme Court in the Goa Foundation versus Union of India case.

Prior to the approval by the TNCZMA, there was a public hearing on 31 January and a meeting of the District Coastal Zone Management Authority (DCZMA).

The proposed Pen Statue would be 42 metres tall and it would be built in the sea at a distance of 360 metres from the coast. It would be made accessible from the existing Karunanidhi memorial near Marina Beach in Chennai through a bridge.

While the total project area would cover 8,551.13 square metres, about 2,263 square metres of sea area would have to be reclaimed for building the monument.

While supporters of the DMK say that the Pen Statue would be a fitting tribute to Karunanidhi who was a cinema scriptwriter and emphasised education and rationality, there are many who oppose the project.

Environmental activists say that the project site is a prime fishing ground and land reclamation required for the project could damage the coastline.

Poovulagin Nanbargal, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that works for environmental protection, says that the Statue could instead be built on land within the already existing Karunanidhi memorial.

Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief Seeman has opposed the project saying that it would affect the livelihood of 13 fishing villages. He said that he would break the memorial if it was built in the sea.