The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Second master plan not to be modified further

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Sunday, Nov 02, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Second master plan not to be modified further

Staff Reporter

CMDA will take action based on main recommendations of seminar, says Parithi Illamvazhuthi

“Measures proposed inadequate to protect heritage buildings in Chennai”
“Parking norms of development regulations inadequate”

CHENNAI: The CMDA will take appropriate action on the main recommendations of the seminar on the second master plan with the approval of the Chief Minister, said Information Minister and CMDA Chairperson Parithi Illamvazhuthi.

Speaking at the valedictory session of the seminar on ‘Second master plan for Chennai Metropolitan Area 2026 - avenues and opportunities’ on Saturday, he said, “The second master plan will be implemented in the city taking into consideration the recommendations of the two-day seminar.”

However, earlier in the day, Susan Mathew, vice-chairman, CMDA, had said that the second master plan will not be modified further as the plan was already studied and scrutinised by experts and government.

The recommendations included the priority for making of the Zonal Development Plans or Detailed Development Plans for city areas and rapidly growing corridors and immediate notification and protection of government buildings already identified as heritage buildings.

Decentralised water treatment plants, execution of a canal to discharge water from Pallikaranai marsh to the Bay of Bengal during flood, conversion of the existing landfill sites at Perungudi and Kodungaiyur to pollution-free sites, preparation of a macro drainage network by the PWD and the CMDA and modern biotech systems of garbage digestion were also recommended.

Considering the importance of the Red Hills catchment area in the supply of water to the city, the need for prohibition of further development in the catchment area was advocated. In addition, a benchmark indicating affordability of housing and a detailed study on the shelter problems of platform dwellers were also advocated.

Earlier in the technical sessions of the seminar, Sunil Kumar, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said that the parking norms of development regulations in the second mater plan were inadequate. He recommended that parking norms be regulated.

An independent regulatory authority to regulate land price and help get land at an affordable price to facilitate housing for the weaker sections was suggested by T.N. Ramanathan, Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Housing Board.

Addressing a question on Metro Rail project, T.V. Somanathan, Managing Director, Chennai Metro Rail ,clarified that though Tiruvottiyur was not part of the current Metro Rail corridor, it would be considered in the next phase of the project.

P.T. Krishnan of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Tamil Nadu chapter, analysing the second mater plan, found that the measures proposed in the plan is not adequate to protect heritage buildings in Chennai and urged the CMDA to extend the conservation proposals to include natural features and sensitive ecosystems.

M.G. Devasahayam, Managing Trustee of Sustain, pointed out the need for a change in the sub-optimal utilisation of public land towards making affordable housing a reality and asked if there existed any policy on survey and inventory of public land for use in pursuing the goals of inclusive housing.

Chennai Mayor M. Subramanian suggested that a flying squad be formed in collaboration with the CMDA to check deviations in new constructions in the city.

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