The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is currently in a state of anticipation, awaiting detailed boundary information on the Pallikaranai marshland and its surrounding influence zones from the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority (TNSWA). This crucial data is necessary to prevent unauthorised construction activities and to ensure that the ongoing developments comply with environmental regulations, especially since Pallikaranai was designated as a Ramsar site in July 2022.
The Pallikaranai marsh, a vital ecological wetland in Chennai, has seen continued construction activity despite its protected status. The CMDA has formally requested the TNSWA to provide comprehensive details, including survey numbers and the exact width of the influence zones surrounding the marsh. These details are essential for the CMDA to accurately delineate the marshland in the city’s planning documents and to impose appropriate developmental restrictions.
According to a CMDA document, the absence of these survey numbers and specific boundary details hinders the authority’s ability to update the Chennai Master Plan. “Without these specifics, the CMDA cannot implement any changes in the master plan that would protect the marshland and regulate construction in its vicinity,” the document states. It further elaborates that no planning permission has been granted for any development on land identified as marshland in the Second Master Plan (SMP). Despite the Pallikaranai marsh’s designation as a Ramsar site, which marks it as a wetland of international importance, the CMDA has not yet received the requisite boundary and survey details from the TNSWA. These details are vital for earmarking the influence zone around the marshland in the master plan, ensuring that the wetland’s ecological integrity is not compromised by unchecked development.
To address this, the CMDA is actively working on the Third Master Plan (TMP) for the Chennai Metropolitan Area. The authority has committed to incorporating suitable guidelines and establishing clear influence zones around the Pallikaranai swamp area in collaboration with the TNSWA. A recent meeting between the CMDA, TNSWA, and the Forest Department highlighted these issues, and although the TNSWA has since provided a shape file outlining the general boundaries of the Ramsar site, the specific survey numbers and sub-division details have yet to be disclosed. It is understood that the TNSWA is currently in the process of consolidating detailed information, including survey numbers, sub-division details, and ownership specifics—whether private or governmental—pertaining to the marshland. These details are crucial not only for regulatory purposes but also to ensure compliance with environmental laws and to prevent further encroachment.
The CMDA has assured the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that all necessary details will be integrated into the TMP and that development restrictions will be imposed accordingly. This assurance comes in response to a directive from the NGT, which is overseeing a case concerning construction activities on the marshland. Moving forward, the successful implementation of the Third Master Plan hinges on receiving comprehensive boundary details from the TNSWA. The collaborative efforts between the CMDA, TNSWA, and other stakeholders will be instrumental in safeguarding the Pallikaranai marshland against unchecked urban development, thereby preserving its ecological significance for future generations.
