CMRL works will not impact temple structures, premises, State tells HC

The State government on Monday assured the Madras High Court that the phase-2 of the CMRL in corridor four (between Lighthouse and Poonamallee) will not affect the decades-old temples in the line, and that the Metro rail projects will be carried out properly.

Advocate General R Shunmugasundaram made this submission before the first bench of Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice N Mala.

The bench was hearing a plea filed by G Gouthaman, PR Ramanan, and S Vijay Narayanan seeking directions to restrain CMRL from implementing the phase-2 works in corridor four.

They submitted that the CRML’s Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) did not cover several decades-old temples that are located between Light House and Poonamallee.

“Mylai Kapaleeswarar Temple, Vadapalani Murugan Temple, Vadapalani Vengeeswarar Temple, Vadapalani Alagar Perumal Temple, Virugambakkam Sundaravardharaja Perumal Temple, Valasaravakkam Velveeswarar Temple, Poonamallee Thirukachi Nambigal and Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Poonamallee Thirukachi Nambigal and Varadaraja Perumal Temple Tank are 100 years old and fall under the Archaeological

Sites and Remains Act, 1958,” theysubmitted.

They further argued that as per the direction of the Madras HC in a suo-motu case and Venice Charter 1964, the 100-year-old sites should be declared as heritage sites, as well as SIA and EIA should be done for completing the Metro works.

The Advocate General submitted that any structure or the premises of the above-mentioned temples will not be affected due to the Metro rail works. “The works are carried out only in the commercial lands belonging to the temples,” he added.

Recording the assurance of the State government, the bench disposed of the matter.