A campaign to stop expressway

CHENNAI: Residents of Besant Nagar, beachgoers and activists are planning a signature campaign to remind Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa about abandoning the beach expressway planned and approved by the DMK government between Marina Beach and Kottivakkam. According to activists protesting against the project, the Chief Minister had indicated that she would review the impacts of beach expressway on fishermen and environment many times during her election campaign.“In an interview given to the media during the 2011 election campaign, Jayalalithaa had mentioned that she would review all the anti- fishermen projects that have been approved by the DMK government,” said Saravanan, a member of Urur Kuppam Panchayat.“Present assembly speaker D Jayakumar had also staged a demonstration in front of the Panagal Maligai against the expressway and CRZ notification. We are now only reminding her to fulfill the promise and protect the interest of fishermen,” added Saravanan.Earlier in August 2010, the fishermen had staged a human chain to protest the project as it was expected to displace about 10,000 fishermen from their traditional dwellings putting their livelihoods under question. In a sensitisation meeting organised before the 2011 assembly elections by the residents of Urur and Olcott Kuppam and beachgoers for candidates contesting for elections, MK Ashok of AIADMK, the now MLA from Velachery constituency had promised to recommend the project to be abandoned.“Major reasons why we are opposed to the project are that, one it displaces about 10,000 people, mostly fishermen. Two, there will be an environmental fallout as private transport will get more priority compared to public transport.The project will also impact Olive Ridley conservation along these shores which are now touching successful heights, and there will be a huge loss of much needed public space for citizens,” said environmental activist Nityanand Jayaraman.