Red hills catchment to become industrial estate

At a time when the city is just recovering from one of its worst water crisis, more than 50 acres of catchment area to the Red Hills reservoir is about to be lost to industrialisation.

The ecologically sensitive Red Hills Catchment Area may lose its 53.97 acres of land as the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has decided to go ahead with issuing reclassification to Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation Limited (SIDCO).

According to a highly placed source in the planning authority, not a single objection was received by the CMDA from the public against the reclassification notification. “Due to the lack of objections, we decided to process the application and issue approval in 15 days,” the source added.

As per the usual practice, the CMDA had given 21-day time to the residents to make objections. During the given time, residents were asked to send their representation in writing or the application would be processed, mostly in favour of applicants. Puzhal lake, one of the four lakes supplying drinking water to Chennai, receives water from the Red Hills Catchment Area, from where the runoff rainwater flows into the reservoir.

Earlier in August, SIDCO had applied for reclassification to convert the land into industrial use zone to develop an industrial layout for women entrepreneurs. As per revenue records, the land that falls under survey numbers 44/1, 45/0 and 175/1 belongs to the State government and is located in Vellanur village.

Clarifying that they are acting as per the norms, a CMDA official added that authority has to reclassify land that has valid patta documents. “During the preparation of land-use masterplan, errors might have occurred and land surrounding water bodies would have been classified as water body mistakenly. When the owner approaches with proper documents, we have to reclassify,” he added.

However, activists point out the lack of public consultation meetings is the reason for lack of adequate representation. “Presently, CMDA gives 21-day time to make objections, which is a very short period. The authority should extend the time limit. Public consultations will also ensure maximum participation of the public,” Nakkeeran of Arappor Iyakkam said.

He also urged the CMDA to make the process of making objections simple and arrange additional windows to send representations.