A sprawling convention centre proposed at a reclaimed
area in Vembanad Lake, which is part of the Ramsar List of wetlands, has
obtained Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance.
The
Kerala State Coastal Zone Management Authority recommended the project
coming up at Mulavukad at its 53 meeting and forwarded it to the State
Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). Constructions
spreading over a built-up area over 1.49 lakh square metres have been
proposed at the site.
Though the Coastal Zone
Management Authority banked on a report by its subcommittee for giving
clearance, the subcommittee had also recommended that “activities
permissible under the CRZ notification 2011 and port-related activities
can only be allowed on leased land.”
However, in its
clearance letter, the authority observed that the “said construction is
proposed in the land reclaimed by the Port Trust for port activity and
subsequently leased out to the proponent.
The report
of the committee was discussed in detail and after considering various
ecosystem aspects, decided that the area being part of an island, the
CRZ extends up to 50 metres and the proposal is for construction of
non-port related activity envisaged outside the 50 metres, the proposal
can be recommended subject to general conditions and that no untreated
waste will be let into the water body and forward the same to SEIAA.”
The
authority sources maintained that the project was recommended
considering the application from the entrepreneur. Earlier, the
subcommittee had pointed out that the “activity proposed to be
undertaken in the reclaimed area for which Port Trust is leasing the
land does not require any foreshore facilities. The proposed project
comes outside the realm of port activities. Therefore the action of Port
Trust can attract CRZ violation.”
It had also
pointed out that the “reclamation of water body falling under CRZ regime
is a prohibited activity as per CRZ notification (2011), as well as
Wetland Notification 2010. The reclamation was carried out in the area,
which is a part of Vembanad Wetland of Ramsar recognition.”
The
subcommittee had also criticised that the reclamation done by CPT in
2005-2006 were “without obtaining proper sanction from CZMA. This was on
the assumption that the water spread area does not attract CRZ
regulation and the total ‘project’ cost was less than 5 crore. However,
the reclaimed area will attract the 1991 CRZ regulations,” it said.
As
per the 1991 CRZ notification, the No-Development Zone is 100 metres
from the High Tide Line (HTL). The project proponent claimed that as per
2011 CRZ regulations they need to leave only 50 metres from the HTL as
No-Development Zone. “The authority may decide on the applicability of
CRZ 1991/ CRZ 2011 with reference to the utilisation of the reclaimed
land during the year 2005 – 2006,” it said.
A
217-room hotel, 572 apartments, a convention centre with a capacity of
3,400 seats — costing Rs. 380 crore — have been proposed at the site.
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