Activists allege that the Hare Krishna Movement in Chennai has illegally encroached on the land near the Thiruvanmiyur beach to build a large kitchen for its Akshaya Patra scheme (mid-day meals).
On Friday, environmentalist Nityanand Jayaraman posted on Facebook that the construction appears to be illegal, and in violation of multiple laws including the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011 and Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act.
He wrote: “It is within tens metres of the High Tide Line, and is being constructed after flattening the dunes. The raised construction and the raised illegal road laid to facilitate access to a seaside gate will disrupt flow of flood-waters, and increase the risk of flooding in areas west of the facility.”
According to Pooja Kumar from the Coastal Research Centre, the area where construction is going on is less than ten metres from the High Tide Line: “Work began without attaining any statutory clearances. A year ago, they began to built a compound around that area, as well as raise the ground level of the campus. Construction of the actual building has now begun."
The Movement officials however deny the same. Speaking to The News Minute, a Hare Krishna spokesperson had this to say: “We have not encroached on any land. We have been there for the past ten years. We are not building a kitchen for the Akshaya Patra scheme. We are constructing a temporary shed for an upcoming festival. No laws have been violated.”
The Movement is very conscious about protecting the environment, and makes sure to participate in cleanliness drives each year, he added.