TN: Rights body claims Rs 2,000cr housing project cleared illegally in Pallikarani Ramsar wetland
In Chennai, a Tamil Nadu rights group called Arappor Iyakkam says that a massive luxury housing project is tripping over the city’s last wetlands. The group claims that a private builder is getting environmental and building approvals for 1,250 high‑end apartments valued at about ₹2,000 crore in Pallikaranai—an ecologically sensitive marsh that the government recently listed as a Ramsar protected wetland.
Arappor Iyakkam’s convenor, Jayaram Venkatesan, filed a detailed complaint with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the Director of Vigilance and Anti‑Corruption (DVAC), the State Chief Secretary, and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Jayaram points out that in April 2022, the state recognised 1,247.5 ha (3,080 acres) of the marsh as Ramsar‑protected under the 2017 Wetlands Rules. About 691 ha fall under Forest Department control, and 547 ha were earmarked for ecological restoration.
Despite these protections, the builder applied for environmental clearance in June 2022 to develop a 14.7‑acre site into a large residential complex. The complaint says that the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) ignored the area’s sensitivity. SEAC first noted the site was “near” the wetland and then cleared it in December 2024. The SEIAA followed suit, issuing final approval on January 20, 2025. The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) gave the building plan green light just three days later.
Arappor Iyakkam alleges that political pressure helped smooth the approvals. The builder was showcased as a flagship project at the 2024 Global Investors Meet, where Chief Minister Stalin and Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa signed a memorandum of understanding, dubbing it a ₹2,000‑crore investment.
The group calls for immediate cancellation of all illegal clearances and a high‑level inquiry into potential violations of the Wetlands Protection Rules and possible collusion among senior officials. Environmentalists warn that if the project moves forward, the Pallikaranai marsh—an essential flood buffer and biodiversity hotspot that shelters more than 100 species of birds, reptiles, and fish—could suffer irreversible damage.
Source: ianslive
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