Work will not affect Kapaleeswar temple, CMRL informs Madras HC

CHENNAI: The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) on Monday informed the Madras high court that due to metro work no damages will be caused to Kapaleeswar temple or Vadapalani Murugan temple and other temples of heritage value which falls in the Light House-Poonamallee corridor.
Advocate-general R Shunmugasundaram made the submission on behalf of CMRL while responding to a PIL alleging eight temples of heritage value are likely to be affected by the work which has been commenced without completing the environmental impact assessment (EIA).
Recording the submission, the first bench of Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice N Mala disposed of the plea moved by G Gouthaman, P R Ramanan and S Vijay Narayanan of Chennai. They wanted the court to pass an interim order restraining the CMRL from proceeding with corridor IV of the phase-II project without completing the EIA and social impact assessment in respect of the temples.
According to the petitioners, Mylapore Kapaleeswarar temple, Vadapalani Murugan temple, Vadapalani Vengeeswarar temple, Vadapalani Alagar Perumal temple, Virugambakkam Sundaravaradharaja Perumal temple, Valasaravakkam Velveeswarar temple, Thirukachi Nambigal and Varadaraja Perumal temples and their adjacent tanks will be affected if the project is carried out. Though CMRL has carried out EIA with respect to three churches with heritage value Santhome Church, Rosary Church and Our Lady of Light Shrine they have failed to conduct any such assessment in respect to the temples, the petitioners alleged.
Claiming that without considering the heritage value of these temples, the government has already acquired large tract of temple land for constructing the Poonamallee bus terminus, the petitioners said, now, CMRL has planned to construct a metro rail station at Poonamallee bus terminus.
The acquisition will make the heritage structure asymmetrical and affect performance of rituals, they added.