KALAIGNAR PEN MONUMENT
Current News:-
It is a proposed offshore memorial to honour the late M Karunanidhi, a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and a prolific writer, poet, and orator.
The monument, which will be shaped like a giant pen, will symbolize his contributions to Tamil literature and culture, as well as his political legacy.
The project was announced in 2022 and is expected to cost Rs 81 crore and cover an area of 8,551 sq m in the Bay of Bengal, about 360 m from Marina Beach in Chennai.
Key Features
The monument will feature regional motifs, architecture, and designs with Tamil heritage elements, and will be surrounded by landscaped gardens.
The pen monument is a representation of Karunanidhi's achievements in Iyal (poetry and literature), Isai (music), and Naadagam (theatre), the three fundamental pillars of both ancient and contemporary Thamizh, or Tamil.
Karunanidhi, who was also known as Kalaignar (artist), wrote over 100 books, including novels, short stories, biographies, essays, and memoirs.
He also penned several plays and screenplays for Tamil cinema and was a renowned speaker and leader of the Dravidian movement.
The pen monument has been planned as a tribute to Karunanidhi's memory and a source of inspiration for future generations of Tamil writers and artists.
Criticism
The project has also faced some criticism and opposition from various quarters, including environmental activists, fishermen's groups, and some political parties.
The critics have raised concerns about the potential ecological damage and loss of livelihoods due to the construction of the monument in the coastal zone.
They have also questioned the need for such a costly and extravagant project at a time when the state is facing several developmental challenges and social issues
Present Status
The project requires clearance from the Union Environment Ministry under the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011.
The Expert Appraisal Committee of the ministry will decide on granting the clearance.
The project has already received approval from the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority.
Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011
It is a legal instrument issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
It aims to regulate the development and conservation activities along the coastal areas, to ensure the livelihood security of the coastal communities, protect the unique coastal ecosystems, and promote sustainable development based on scientific principles.
It classifies the coastal zone into four categories (CRZ-I, CRZ-II, CRZ-III and CRZ-IV) based on their ecological and geomorphological features, and specifies the permissible and prohibited activities for each category.
Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA)
It is a statutory body established by the Government of India under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
The main objective is to protect and conserve the coastal environment and resources, and to regulate the development activities in the coastal areas.
CZMA has a national-level authority, as well as state-level authorities for each coastal state and union territory.
The National Authority is responsible for formulating policies, guidelines, and norms for coastal zone management, and for overseeing the implementation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification.
The State authorities are responsible for enforcing the CRZ rules, granting clearances for projects and activities in the coastal areas, and monitoring the compliance of the coastal zone management plans.
It plays a vital role in ensuring the sustainable development of the coastal regions, which are rich in biodiversity, natural resources, and socio-economic opportunities.
It also addresses the challenges posed by climate change, sea level rise, coastal erosion, pollution, and natural disasters.
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