VILLUPURAM: On the sands of Marakkanam, a private land developer is working on a sprawling layout that is spread across 160 acres of land, which is allegedly threatening the very existence of two fishing villages. With allegations surfacing that the project on the shores of Bay of Bengal is taken up in violation of several laws, the local body has shot off a notice to the private company, while the latter maintains that everything was done as per the rules.
According to villagers of Kaipanikuppam and Naravakkam near Marakkanam, they are under threat of seawater intrusion, as the private firm, Manju Group, broke through the naturally formed foredune for a length of about 40 feet to create an entrance to the site. The project itself is located inside the foredune zone itself, they added. The plan is to have as many as 3,000 plots of varying sizes – from 600 sqft to 1,200 sqft, with prices starting from `600 per sqft. Activists here alleged that the company was advertising that the plots were located in Puducherry though it is actually situated inside Villupuram district limit.
The area used to be a hot spot for tortoises and also migratory birds, besides offering a vacant spot for the local fishermen to dry their nets, said R Sarvesh Kumar, an environmental activist from Marakkanam. “While the rules bar even the fishermen from building houses near the shore up to 500 m, this company has managed to go ahead with the project that is situated very close to the sea – only about three metres. Apart from the fishermen, it actually is those who buy these plots who would be in grave danger as the plot is inside the high tide zone,” Sarvesh alleged.
In addition, they have also encroached about 30 acres government poramboke land close to the shore and erected temporary fencing as though they owned it. This includes pathway, crematoriums, pond and palm grove, he said, adding that the buyers are bound to face legal troubles in future.
Detailing these allegations, a complaint has been filed with the Marakkanam town panchayat, following which a notice was issued to Manju Group seeking explanation.
“Only after the local villagers and activists complained did we realise that the developer had not obtained mandatory approval from the Directorate of Town and Country Planning. As we have no powers to issue notice to the registration department to stop registering land here, we have decided to forward the details of the lay outs to district administration,” said M Murugan executive officer of Marakkanam Town panchayat.
A plot was registered to a private party only on Saturday, said sources at Marakkanam sub registrar office, adding that more than 1,000 plots have been sold out so far. When contacted, district registrar for Tindivanam zone, Sudar Oli, said no registration could take place as the price value of the site has not been fixed yet. But she admitted that there were chances that the company would collect token advance. Stephen S, the business consultant of the group told Express that the company have submitted all necessary documents soon after receiving the notice. However, town panchayat officials denied this, maintaining that there are yet to get any response from the group. With both parties trading in claims and counter claims, local villagers and activists have demanded intervention by district administration to protect the ocean ecosystem from destruction and also save unsuspecting buyers from being cheated.