NGT Orders Halt on Construction Near Pallikaranai Marsh Until IMP is Finalised

The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a landmark order halting all planning permissions and construction approvals in and around Chennai’s Pallikaranai Marshland. The directive will remain in force until an Integrated Management Plan (IMP) is finalised and the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority (TNSWA) scientifically demarcates the marshland’s “zone of influence.”

The tribunal, comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Prashant Gargava, emphasised that Chennai’s last surviving wetland must be safeguarded from unregulated urbanisation. The order directs the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), TNSWA, and the Water Resources Department (WRD) to work in coordination and ensure the IMP is completed before granting any clearances.

The case originated in June 2023 after reports highlighted road construction across Perumbakkam marshland using debris. Investigations revealed encroachments, dumping within 150 metres of the Ramsar site, and disputes over land classifications. While the CMDA claimed that approvals were based on revenue records describing the land as residential patta property, the TNSWA and WRD warned that such development could obstruct feeder canals, disrupt stormwater inlets, and increase flood risks.

In its detailed inspections, the TNSWA stressed the need for a one-kilometre buffer around the marsh, citing its critical hydrological role in flood management. The WRD also reminded authorities of the 2015 and 2023 floods, underscoring the dangers of altering natural drainage flows.

Developers, however, argued that the disputed land was zoned residential and not formally notified as a wetland under the 2017 Wetlands Rules. Yet, the NGT ruled that precautionary principles must prevail, clarifying that even patta lands within 150 metres of the Ramsar site fall under the marsh’s zone of influence.

This order is a significant step in protecting Chennai’s fragile ecosystem. By halting construction approvals until scientific boundaries are established, the NGT has placed environmental safeguards above unchecked urban growth. The verdict underscores that long-term flood safety and ecological balance are more valuable than short-term real estate gains.