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Coast Guard renews closure demand

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai June 5. The Coast Guard has once again formally sought the closure of the Annexe of the Royal Madras Yacht Club (RMYC), which was reopened in the face of a `ban' on July 4. In a letter to the Club, Commandant K.P.S. Raghuvanshi says that with limited manpower resources, it is not possible for the Coast Guard to screen all the vehicles and visitors entering the Club in a manner which does not compromise the security of its hovercraft.

The letter appeals to the Club to discontinue its activities as long as the hovercraft is positioned at Chennai. In an earlier letter to the Club, dated May 29, Commodore Vasan, Commander, Coast Guard (Eastern Region), ordered that the RMYC ``is to cease to operate from the present premises till further notice''. This was preceded by the entry of armed Coast Guard personnel who demanded that the members vacate the premises.

Welcoming the apparent softening in tone of the recent letter, the RMYC office-bearers say they are prepared to meet the Coast Guard and discuss security measures, including the screening of vehicles and visitors. In the interim, the RMYC has requested the Tamil Nadu police to intensify patrolling of the Naval Office Road area, to compensate for the Coast Guard's shortage of manpower. ``However, the Annexe will remain open,'' says V.R. Srikanth, RMYC president.

Reacting to the Defence PRO, V. Sankaran's claim that film shooting was not permitted on Naval Office Road last week, the RMYC says it is in possession of photographic evidence to the contrary. Speaking to The Hindu, film actor and producer, Parthiban, said that a couple of scenes of his film, `Ivan', was filmed on the road and that the crew were present there for over five hours on June 26 before being asked to shift elsewhere.

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Stories in this Section

• CMDA directed to 'suspend' major works
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• Coast Guard renews closure demand
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• Seats reduction stayed
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