Pallikaranai Marsh Construction Ban: High Court Defers Final Hearing on CREDAI Petition to August 3

The Madras High Court has adjourned to August 3 the final hearing on a petition filed by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers` Associations of India (CREDAI) challenging the restriction on granting construction approvals within a one-kilometre radius of the Pallikaranai Marshland.

In September last year, the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed that no construction approvals should be granted within one kilometre of the ecologically sensitive Pallikaranai Marsh. Acting on this directive, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) issued an order in October prohibiting new building approvals within the specified buffer zone.

CREDAI challenged both the NGT and CMDA orders before the Madras High Court. The case came up for hearing before a Bench comprising Chief Justice S.A. Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan.

During the hearing, CREDAI argued that the one-kilometre radius around the marshland already includes major public infrastructure such as the Chennai Metro Rail, 36 educational institutions, 11 hospitals, and several IT companies. It contended that the NGT`s decision was based on a draft report submitted by a private trust without a comprehensive scientific study.

The association further submitted that the restriction has severely affected landowners and halted development activities in the area. It urged the court to set aside the NGT and CMDA orders and direct the Tamil Nadu government to conduct a detailed scientific assessment before determining the extent of the construction-free buffer zone.

Representing the Tamil Nadu government, officials informed the court that, due to the NGT`s order, authorities have been unable to process applications seeking building permission in the affected area. The government also stated that 47 building approval applications are currently pending.

After hearing submissions from both sides, the Madras High Court adjourned the matter to August 3 for final hearing.