The Isha Foundation, founded by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev aka
Jagadeesan, has already constructed 62 buildings and been putting up
another 15 buildings without approval from government authorities on the
foothills of Velliangiri near Coimbatore, the Deputy Director of Town
and Country Planning, Coimbatore region, submitted in counter affidavit
filed in the Madras High Court on Tuesday.

The counter was filed
in response to a PIL from advocate M Vetriselvan, praying for a
direction to the authorities concerned to demolish the unauthorised
constructions. The counter said that the Foundation commenced the
construction in 1994. But it had not obtained the clearance from the
Hill Area Conservation Authority, which came into existence in 1990.
Prior approval from the Coimbatore Collector was necessary as per the
provisions of Town and Country Planning Act and TN Panchayat Buildings
Rules. But the Foundation has not obtained the clearance from the
Collector and the Deputy Director of Town and Country Planing. Hence,
‘lock and seal and demolition’ notice was issued to the Foundation in
December, 2012.

In July, 2011, it had submitted proposals for
construction of 12 buildings, but it was returned with a direction to
resubmit in full shape in February 2012. In September same year, the
Foundation resubmitted the proposal and during inspection by the
officials in October, it was found that the construction has already
begun and the building plan was not tallying with the actual.

The
Foundation was directed to resubmit the plan as per the construction
made at the site along with NOCs from the Forest, PWD, Collector and
others. As the construction was not stopped, ‘stop work’ notice was
issued on November 5, 2011. Subsequently, sealing notice was issued on
December 24, 2012, the counter said and the proposals were returned as
they were not in full shape in January this year.