“Such activities are prohibited as per the notification of 2019. The violator is clearly violating these zones by dumping soil and stones and redefining the river bank, which is an unpardonable crime and needs to be addressed with immediate action,” he alleged.

The encroachment is said to be taking place in Paravakkadu, an area known to attract migratory birds due to its proximity to the lagoon, located in Poornankuppam Revenue Village. The issue has also drawn attention to the draft CRZ map released by the Puducherry Coastal Zone Management Authority (PCZMA), which was later withdrawn due to public pressure.

Chandrasekhar noted, “The design deliberately omitted important ecologically sensitive elements and outlined the said encroachment by the resort within the sensitive area. This is nothing short of daylight theft, prohibited under CRZ-2011 Section 3(ix) and Section 8(III)(A)(iii).”

Besides the Chunnambar river issue, Anantharaman highlighted that another three hectares of government land in Nonankuppam village has been seized for fish farming.

“The ongoing theft must be stopped and strict action taken against the encroachers and the officials concerned, including the Puducherry Coastal Zone Management Authority and local revenue officials who have been complicit by not acting on earlier complaints,” Chandrasekhar said.