SC petition against TN’s plan to erect a memorial for Karunanidhi

The Tamil Nadu government’s decision to build a pen-shaped offshore memorial to late DMK leader M Karunanidhi in the Bay of Bengal is being contested in a PIL before the Supreme Court.

Near the Muthamil Kalaignar Karunanidhi memorial, the state government intends to build a 134-foot-tall “pen” statue.

Karunanidhi was not only an exceptional politician but also a writer.

He published nearly daily articles in the DMK periodical Murasoli.

In his petition, Madurai resident KK Ramesh asked the court to order the government of Tamil Nadu and the Ministry of Environment to reverse their decision since it would harm the environment.

According to the petition, all state government departments hurriedly issued clearance certificates for the proposed monument while breaking environmental rules.

Unchecked building activity in these locations “would have catastrophic effects on the natural water flow and may ultimately lead to severe natural calamities.”