Madras High Court Halts Housing Project Near Pallikaranai Marsh Ramsar Site

The Madras High Court has ordered an interim halt to the construction of a large residential project near the ecologically sensitive Pallikaranai Marsh, a Ramsar-designated wetland in Chennai. The suspension follows environmental concerns raised in a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging that the project violates conservation laws and poses significant flood risks.

Court Issues Interim Restraint on Construction

A division bench comprising Chief Justice MM Srivatsava and Justice Arul Murugan issued the interim order while hearing the PIL filed by AIADMK legal wing member J. Brezhnev. The petitioner sought the cancellation of approvals granted to the Rs 2,000-crore Brigade Morgan Heights project and requested a ban on new construction within a one-kilometre radius of the Pallikaranai Marsh. The court directed the Tamil Nadu government and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to respond before the next hearing.

Petitioner Flags Environmental and Legal Violations

The PIL claimed that the housing project was sanctioned unlawfully within a zone protected under the Central Government’s Ramsar framework and the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. It argued that the marshland acts as a natural flood buffer and supports rich biodiversity, making it critical to Chennai’s ecological balance. The petitioner also noted that ongoing encroachments, garbage dumping, and unregulated urban development have already degraded the marsh’s health.

Government and Developer Defend Approvals

The Tamil Nadu government and CMDA have maintained that the project lies outside the officially notified Pallikaranai Reserve Forest and Ramsar boundaries. Officials clarified that permission was granted only for construction on private patta lands. The government stated that a detailed demarcation of the 1,248-hectare Ramsar site — including 698 hectares of reserve forest and 550 hectares of adjoining wetland — is underway, with verification by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management expected to conclude soon.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Pallikaranai Marsh in Chennai is a Ramsar-designated wetland of international importance.
• The Madras High Court issued an interim order halting nearby housing construction in October 2025.
• The case concerns the Rs 2,000-crore Brigade Morgan Heights project at Perumbakkam.
• The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, govern protection of such sites.

Public Concerns Over Flooding and Ecological Impact

Civic activists, including the group Arappor Iyakkam, have warned that the project could intensify flooding in Perumbakkam and Sholinganallur during heavy rains. They argue that construction near the marsh compromises its capacity for stormwater absorption and groundwater recharge. The High Court’s intervention has reignited the debate over urban expansion in environmentally fragile zones, highlighting the growing tension between Chennai’s housing demands and its vanishing wetlands.