Incidentally, the tsunami in December 2004 had wreaked havoc in Vypeen Island, causing death of people and destruction of property. The three-member committee also concluded that many of the apprehensions raised by the residents regarding the plant were valid. The panel, which had N. Purnachandra Rao, Director, National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS); Eapen Varghese, former Chief Town Planner; and K.V. Thomas, a Coastal Regulation Zone expert and former scientist of NCESS, as its members, highlighted many of the arguments of those opposed to the project. However, the constructions are planned within the 200 m zone at variance with what is given in the EC.

Source: The Hindu November 13, 2017 19:41 UTC