DTCP files counter in Isha Foundation case

The Deputy Director of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) in a counter affidavit filed on Wednesday revealed that Isha Foundation has constructed buildings ‘with alarming plinth area’, without obtaining proper approvals from the competent authorities. 

In response to a PIL moved by the Vellingiri Hill Tribal Protection Society to restore the wetlands by demolishing the unauthorised construction put up by Isha Foundation situated at Ikkarai Poluvampatti Village, the affidavit stated that the Director of Town and Country Planning had issued a lock and seal notice way back in 2012 to an extent of 109 acres for establishing Isha Meditation Lingam Religious Worship and its connected buildings. 

But Isha Foundation preferred a revision petition, which is still pending in the High Court. Confirming that the Ikkarai Poluvampatti Village falls under the Hill Area Conservation Authority (HACA), the plea submitted that Isha Foundation was directed to submit all the details as per the checklist for establishing Sivan Statue and its connected buildings (Mandapam) along with plans to obtain permission from the Hill Area Conservation Authority. 

However, though the Isha Foundation has submitted that it has obtained orders to establish a 112 feet statue with conditions by the District Collector to an extent of 4.29 acres of wetland, permission for other survey numbers falling within the proposed plan has not been submitted, the affidavit said. 

The affidavit also noted that the State had issued orders directing the approving authorities to collect infrastructure and basic amenities charges at different rates for different category of buildings. The present rate for special buildings has been fixed as Rs.285 per sq metre. 

But the executive authority is stated to have issued approvals not in conformity with rules and without collecting the infrastructure and basic amenities charges thereby causing revenue loss to the Government, the counter said.