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Chennai, Oct 23 (IANS) Tamil Nadu rights group ‘Arappor Iyakkam’ has alleged massive corruption in granting environmental clearance and building clearance for a luxury residential project within the ecologically sensitive Pallikaranai wetland – a Ramsar site and one of the last remaining wetlands in Chennai.
In a detailed complaint submitted to Chief Minister MK Stalin, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), Chief Secretary and Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the organisation’s convenor Jayaram Venkatesan said around 1,250 high-end apartments, worth around Rs 2,000 crore, are being constructed by a private builder in Ram Nagar, Pallikaranai.
Jayaram pointed out that in April 2022, the Tamil Nadu government officially notified 1,247.5 hectares (3,080 acres) of the Pallikaranai swamp as a Ramsar-protected wetland under the 2017 Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules.
Of this, 690.65 hectares of land is under the control of the forest department, while 547 hectares of land was earmarked for ecological restoration. Despite these protections, the builder applied for environmental clearance in June 2022 to develop the 14.7-acre site into a large residential complex.
According to the complaint, both the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) ignored the ecological sensitivity of the area.
“Initially, SEAC noted that the project site was ‘near’ wetlands, but later it was approved in December 2024. SEIAA also followed suit and gave the final approval on January 20, 2025,” Jayaram said.
“What is shocking is that the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) approved the building plan just three days later.”
The organization further alleged that political pressure influenced the approval process.
The project was reportedly showcased during the 2024 Global Investors Meet, where Chief Minister MK Stalin and Industries Minister TRB Raja signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the builder, touting it as an investment of Rs 2,000 crore.
Calling for immediate cancellation of all illegal clearances, Arappor Iyakkam demanded that the government initiate a high-level inquiry into the alleged violations of wetlands conservation rules and possible nexus between senior officials. Environmentalists say that if the project is allowed to proceed, it could cause irreparable damage to the Pallikaranai marsh – an important flood buffer and biodiversity hotspot, which is home to more than 100 species of birds, reptiles and fish.
–IANS
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