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The Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (Credai) has approached the Madras High Court challenging a National Green Tribunal (NGT) direction that restricts construction within one kilometre of the Pallikaranai marsh in Chennai. The marsh is a notified Ramsar wetland. Credai has argued that the restriction was imposed without a scientific study, official notification or stakeholder consultation. The High Court has admitted the plea and sought responses from state authorities. The order has impacted thousands of acres and stalled fresh planning approvals in several urbanised areas.
The Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (Credai) has filed a petition before the Madras High Court challenging a directive of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that restricts construction activity within a one-kilometre radius of the Pallikaranai marshland in Chennai. The wetland is a designated Ramsar site and is considered ecologically sensitive. Advertisement
The NGT had passed the order last year while dealing with environmental concerns relating to the marsh. In its direction, the tribunal treated one kilometre as the zone of influence around the wetland and restricted development activity in that stretch. Following this, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) stopped granting planning permissions in the affected area.
According to the petition, the restriction has impacted nearly 8,397 acres of land covering more than ten villages within the Greater Chennai Corporation limits. Credai submitted that the area includes well-developed residential neighbourhoods, IT parks, government establishments, metro rail infrastructure and other public facilities. It told the court that these locations are already urban in character and not untouched greenfield areas.
Credai has stated in its plea that it is not opposing the protection of the Pallikaranai marsh or its notified Ramsar boundary. However, it has argued that the one-kilometre buffer was fixed without conducting a detailed scientific assessment, issuing a statutory notification, or consulting stakeholders such as landowners and developers. The association has questioned the legal basis for imposing a blanket ban on approvals across such a large urbanised belt.
The High Court has admitted the petition and directed the CMDA and the Tamil Nadu forest department to file their responses. The matter is expected to be heard further in the coming weeks after the authorities submit their replies.
Pallikaranai marsh has been at the centre of environmental debates for years. Environmental groups have raised concerns over shrinking wetland areas due to urban expansion, while developers have pointed to the presence of long-standing layouts and public infrastructure in surrounding zones. The current dispute brings this issue back into focus, this time before the High Court.
The outcome of the case will be significant for both environmental governance and urban planning in Chennai, especially in areas where development and ecological protection overlap.
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