A ruckus broke out in Chennai during the public hearing on the proposal to erect a “pen monument” in honor of ex-CM Karunanidhi at the Marina Beach. DMK and AIADMK cadres created an uproar with arguments for and against the project.
Police officials intervening to prevent chaos during the public meeting. (Credits: Twitter-ANI)
By Shilpa Nair: A ruckus broke out in Chennai during a public hearing on the proposal to erect a ‘pen monument’ at Marina Beach in memory of former Tamil Nadu CM and late DMK supremo M Karunanidhi.
The public meeting turned chaotic when a few members from other political parties such as the BJP, Naam Tamilar Katchi, and fishermen’s associations affiliated to these parties and others spoke against the project.
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The BJP members who participated in the meeting alleged that the DMK members tried to shout them down and create a ruckus when they tried to voice their opinion against the project.
Due to the charged atmosphere, police deployment was stepped up at the public hearing venue to ensure that the situation remained under control.
Speaking to India Today, BJP worker Sekhar, who was present at the public hearing, said, “They (DMK government) did not give space to the fishermen who are going to get affected by the monument to voice their concerns. They brought in their party workers, who have no idea about the local issues, to create trouble and raise slogans. This public hearing was a farce.”
Activist Thirumurugan Gandhi, who was also present at the meeting, expressed similar views. “During the public hearing, it was the. political voices that was more powerful. We were not given enough space for us to express our views…This is not the way a public hearing must be conducted,” he said.
Meanwhile, Naam Tamilar Katchi Chief Seeman, who participated in the public hearing, strongly opposed the proposal for the pen monument mainly on the grounds that it would have a negative impact on the environment and livelihood of fishermen in the area.
Speaking amidst the ruckus and sloganeering by DMK workers, he said, “It was a mistake to allow Karunanidhi to be buried at Marina. I dare you, you erect the pen monument in the sea and I will come and break it. They don’t have money to renovate schools but where are they getting money for the pen monument? Why don’t you keep it at your party (DMK) office? Or keep it at the memorial. Why do you want to keep it only in the sea?”
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“If the ‘Pen statue’ is erected in the sea, I will break and destroy the statue. If you (DMK) want to erect the ‘Pen statue’ in memory of Karunanidhi, you can do it in your party’s head office, Arivalayam,” he said.
The proposal of the DMK government is to build a giant 42 meter “pen monument” above the sea off Marina Beach in Chennai at an estimated cost of Rs 81 crore. As per reports, the monument would be few feet taller than the iconic statue of great Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar in Kanyakumari.
Several environmental activists have raised concerns about the project as the planned site of the monument falls under coastal regulatory zone-IV.
As per the norms, construction of memorials or monuments are generally discouraged in CRZ-IV areas, but allowed only in “exceptional cases” with adequate environmental safeguards.
Activists also cite that the Marina beach coastline is already reeling under serious environmental issues due to factors such as expansion of harbours and ports, construction activity and climate change.
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Source: https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMijgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5pbmRpYXRvZGF5LmluL2NpdGllcy9jaGVubmFpL3N0b3J5L3J1Y2t1cy1jaGVubmFpLXB1YmxpYy1oZWFyaW5nLXByb3Bvc2FsLWVyZWN0LXBlbi1tb251bWVudC1tYXJpbmEtYmVhY2gtd2F0Y2gtMjMyODYyNS0yMDIzLTAxLTMx0gGSAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGlhdG9kYXkuaW4vYW1wL2NpdGllcy9jaGVubmFpL3N0b3J5L3J1Y2t1cy1jaGVubmFpLXB1YmxpYy1oZWFyaW5nLXByb3Bvc2FsLWVyZWN0LXBlbi1tb251bWVudC1tYXJpbmEtYmVhY2gtd2F0Y2gtMjMyODYyNS0yMDIzLTAxLTMx?oc=5
