Date:07/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/07/stories/2008090750210100.htm

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G.O. effects changes in second master plan

A. Srivathsan

CHENNAI: Just days after the notification of the second master plan, the first set of major changes has been forced by a government order (G.O. No.190, Housing and Urban Development Department) issued on September 2.

Land use in 12 villages has been re-classified from agriculture to primary residential use, and a rail link between the Vandalur railway station and Outer Ring Road, proposed by the second master plan, dropped.

The second master plan identified Vellanur village as the catchment of the Red Hills lake, the city’s major source of water supply. To protect these lands from possible contamination, and to harness the benefits of surface run-off, they were classified as ‘agricultural use’ and listed in Annexure XII as protected area in the master plan.

But, the government, overriding the master plan, has directed the CMDA to reclassify these lands from agriculture to primary residential use, allowing for construction. Similarly, lands in Pallikaranai village near the marsh area have also been reclassified from agricultural to residential.

In Poonthandalam, Palanthandalam and Nandambakkam villages, lands near Chembarambakkam lake were identified as ayacut lands and classified as agricultural use. These, too, have been reclassified. Even lands designated for higher order use in Sholinganallur village on Old Mahabalipuram Road have been reclassified as residential use, paving the way for construction of apartments.