Environment Ministry gives final nod to ‘Kalaignar Pen Monument’

Introduction

The Tamil Nadu state government’s proposal to construct the Kalaignar Pen Monument at Chennai’s Marina Beach has received Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The clearance comes with certain conditions that need to be met to ensure the protection of the marine ecosystem and wildlife.

Background

The CRZ clearance was granted based on recommendations from the Expert Appraisal Committee (CRZ) and the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority. The Ministry reserves the right to revoke or suspend the clearance if the conditions are not satisfactorily implemented. The project’s environmental statement must be submitted annually to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, and compliance with the conditions should be uploaded on the Public Works Department (PWD) website.

Structure Details

• The pen monument will be dedicated to M. Karunanidhi and will be constructed as a tribute to his legacy.
• The design of the monument draws inspiration from the Veena, a traditional Carnatic musical instrument handmade in Tamil Nadu.
• The monument will stand at a height of 30 meters and cover an area of 8,551 sq.m.
• It will include a pen pedestal, a lattice bridge above the beach, and a land and pedestrian pathway extending over the sea.
• The bridge will be 7 meters wide, with a length of 290 meters over land and 360 meters over the sea.
• Chennai-based Hubert Enviro Care Systems has been appointed as the infrastructure and environmental consultant for the project.
• The PWD (Public Works Department) will prepare a detailed project report based on the Ministry’s approval for the execution of the project.

Conditions Set by the Environment Ministry

The Environment Ministry has outlined 15 conditions that must be adhered to during the construction and maintenance of the Kalaignar Pen Monument. These conditions include obtaining a No Objection Certificate from the Naval office in Adyar, conducting erosion and accretion studies, and preventing the dumping of construction debris in water bodies or adjacent areas.

Imortant takeaways for competitive examinations

• Muthuvel Karunanidhi was an Indian writer and politician who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for almost two decades over five terms between 1969 and 2011.
• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change is Shri Bhupender Yadav.
• MK Stalin is the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

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