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Centre gives nod, with conditions, to ex-chief minister Karunanidhi’s ‘pen memorial’ at Marina Beach

The EAC said its clearance approval is subject to the outcome of the case challenging the pen monument in the Southern Bench of the NGT.

Vinodh Arulappan

Published Apr 29, 2023 | 8:07 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 29, 2023 | 8:07 PM

The memorial would stand 30 metres tall, spanning 290 metres over land and 360 metres over the sea. (Supplied)

The memorial would stand 30 metres tall, spanning 290 metres over land and 360 metres over the sea. (Supplied)

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has given the green signal to erect the pen monument in remembrance of late DMK supremo Karunanidhi at Marina Beach in Chennai.

Following the proposal of the state government for the construction of the pen monument, which would stand 30 metres tall, spanning 290 metres over land and 360 metres over the sea — tabled in the meeting of the EAC that took place on 17 April — the 12-member committee approved the construction with conditions.

Data submitted to the EAC by the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department. (Supplied)

The committee had stated that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) should be obtained from INS Adyar prior to the commencement of construction and an expert monitoring committee should be set up during the implementation of the project.

Further the EAC barred construction activity in the areas of turtle nesting from 1 January to 30 April of every year.

The EAC also said that its clearance approval is subject to the outcome of the case challenging the pen monument in the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal.

Also Read: DMK defends pen memorial for Karunanidhi on Bay of Bengal beach

Key conditions for constructing the pen monument

  • Monitoring of erosion and accretion studies should be conducted and the same should be submitted to the regional office.
  • Any temporary physical infrastructure setup and excavated material during the construction of the project shall not be dumped in water bodies or adjacent areas and the site shall be restored to its original condition after the completion of the construction of work.
  • The road connectivity and Traffic Management Plan, as submitted, to be implemented in totality and the compliance report should be submitted to the regional office.
  • The Crowd Management Plan & Emergency Evacuation Plan (EEP), as submitted, to be implemented in totality and the compliance report should be submitted to the regional office on six monthly basis.
Proposed design. (Supplied)

Proposed design. (Supplied)

  • Management of the visitors will be strictly through access controlled and regulated to maintain the number of visitors at any given point of time as stated in the crowd management plan.
  • There will be no construction activity in the areas of turtle nesting, if any, during the turtle nesting season from 1 January to 30 April of every year.
  • No groundwater shall be extracted within the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) to meet the water requirements during the construction and/or operation phase of the project.
  • Permanent labour camp, machinery, and material storage shall not be set up in the CRZ area.
  • The project proponents will certify that there is no legal restriction on the proposed project activities at the proposed site.
  • The project proponent should comply with the order or direction, if any, issued by any court or tribunal on the project.
  • This CRZ clearance letter is subject to the final order of the National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone) IA No. 181/2022 and other cases, if any.
  • An expert monitoring committee should be set up during the implementation of the project.
  • All necessary clearance from the concerned authority, as may be applicable should be obtained prior to the commencement of the project or activity.

Also Read: Opposition, activists against plan for Marina Beach pen monument

Seeman vows to move court

Meanwhile, Naam Tamilar Katchi chief Seeman said that he will obtain legal remedies against the construction of the pen monument inside the Bay of Bengal.

Taking to Twitter, he said that both the Union and state governments allowing the project — without considering that a proper public hearing was not conducted — shows their stand against the people’s wish.

Other environmental organisations, including Poovulagin Nanbargal in the state also requested the DMK government not to implement the project inside the sea.

On 31 January 2023, the State Pollution Control Board conducted a public hearing, which ended in a ruckus after Seeman stated that he would not allow the pen monument to be built inside the sea.

Later, the Board announced that 22 out of 34 people who spoke in the public hearing favoured the construction inside the sea.

Also Read: I’ll break pen statue when I come to power: Seeman

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