Jayalalithaa Memorial faces regulatory speed bump

Stringent CRZ rules will hinder plans of building a memorial for Jayalalithaa. There is, however, a way around it for the AIADMK

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's resolution to set up a memorial for J Jayalalithaa may not materialise as planned but there could be a way around it after all.

Stringent Coastal Regulatory Zone rules prohibits construction of new structures but an amendment in 2011 empowers the state government to bend rules, albeit with the Centre's nod.

In its first meet post Jayalalithaa's death, the Tamil Nadu cabinet announced that Rs 15 crore will be spent to set up a memorial for late J Jayalalithaa.

Despite the leader being buried alongside, M G Ramachandran within the premises of M G R Memorial, the party had plans of building one for their departed leader. The CRZ rules, however, do not permit the same.

The CRZ regulations mark an area up to 200 metres from the high tide line on the landward side in case of seafront and 100 metres along tidal influenced water bodies as 'No Development Zone'. Further Coastal Regulation Zone notifications add that, 'No construction shall be permitted within NDZ except for repairs or reconstruction of existing authorised structure not exceeding existing Floor Space Index, existing plinth area and existing density.'

While the AIADMK hopes to push the memorial for Jayalalithaa as part of renovating the already existing M G R memorial, new construction of any kind is not permissible without the centre's nod un the CRZ rules.

With the allocated Rs 15 crore, the AIADMK is currently looking to set up a memorial over the vault-like space where Jayalalithaa rests and to rename it as Dr MGR and Puratchi Talaivi Selvi Jayalalithaa Memorial.

OneIndia News