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Activists urge PM not to be part of illegal structure opening

The inauguration is planned for February 24. The activists allege that the Isha Foundation has constructed illegal structures covering 13 lakh sq. ft on the foothills of Velliangiri.

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The 112-foot statue is of Adiyogi Shiva, the source of yoga
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Environmentalists and social activists have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to cancel their proposed visit to Velliangiri Hills in Coimbatore to inaugurate a 112-foot statue of Adiyogi Shiva.

The inauguration is planned for February 24. The activists allege that the Isha Foundation has constructed illegal structures covering 13 lakh sq. ft on the foothills of Velliangiri.

As part of the Isha Foundation's Mahashivratri celebration on Friday, PM Modi will unveil the 112-foot bust of Adiyogi in the presence of Isha Foundation founder and guru Jaggi Vasudev. Since 2013, the Foundation has been fighting seve-ral cases over the illegal constru-ctions in the Madras High Court.

Retired Madras High Court judge P Hariparanthaman said the Town and Country Planning department itself has stated in the HC in 2013 that the extent of illegal constru-ction runs to 13 lakh sq. ft and that it had issued a stop-work notice in November 2012 and followed it with a 'lock and seal and demolition notice' in December 2012.

"Strangely, the case is still pending in the High Court. When action is being initiated against illegal construction to the extent of 600 to 700 sq.ft in the city, how come the Isha Centre is being allowed to continue construction of illegal buildings," he wondered.

"The Isha Foundation is mired in illegalities in the form of illegal buildings facing demolition notices issued by the state government, so the visit of the Prime Minister and Chief Minister to the inauguration is not right. It may amount to interfering with the administration of justice," the former judge said.

A senior Town and Country Planning department official told DNA that they could not initiate action against the Isha foundation after issuing a demolition notice because of the pending court case. Also the Foundation had made an appeal to the state government and their director refuting the charges, saying all their activities were under the purview of the law.

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