The temporary zone of influence around the Pallikaranai wetlands may be limited to 36 survey numbers, the state wetlands authority told the Madras High Court

In a significant relief to the hundreds of property owners affected by the construction ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) within a radius of one kilometer around the boundaries of the Pallikaranai wetlands in Chennai, the Tamil Nadu State Wetlands Authority (TNSWA) on Monday (October 12, 2026) came up with an interim no-impact private impact (pattaoIlands) zone.

Additional Solicitor General PV Balasubramaniam, who appeared before the first bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan, said that the TNSWA had identified the lands in 36 survey numbers covering an approximate extent of 128.19 hectares after completion of the notification process by the court as the final commitment of the ZoI.

Senior lawyer PS Raman, representing the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI) Chennai branch, which was the first of many petitioners to approach the court challenging the NGT ban, said TNSWA had done a commendable job in identifying the interim ZoI in a short span of time and it was completely acceptable to the real estate developers association.

After hearing both the advocates, the judges decided to study the latest TNSWA report and pass the relevant orders on Wednesday (October 14, 2026). In its report, TNSWA said the provisional ZoI could cover survey numbers 283 and 284(P) in Enjambakkam village, 175(P), 177 and 189 in Karappakkam village and 407(P) in Okkiyam Thoraipakkam village in Sholinganallur Taluk.

It could further cover survey numbers 23(1A,2), 429/3, 431/2(P), 55 (1D2, 1E2, 1F2, 1G2, 2A2, 2B2, 2C2, 2D2), 658/1B, 657 (1A, 3G, 3, 3A 3H, 3I, 3J, 3K, 4A3), 657/3A5, 688(P), 690(P), 691, 80, 658/1A(P), 657/4C, 657/1B3, 657/1A(P), 2,367/3A 2,367/3A 432/1, 430, 429/2, 433, 434/3 and 657/3A3 in village Pallikaranai Sholinganallur Taluk, report filed by TNSWA.

The authority listed other lands that could be part of the provisional ZoI, survey number 57/1 in Perungudi village in Sholinganallur Taluk; In the court order, survey numbers 439(P), 507/1, 527, 602/7 and 602/8 of Sholinganallur village in Sholinganallur Taluk and survey numbers 537(P), 542 (P) of Perumpakkam village in Tambaram Taluk could be mentioned.

The TNSWA further added that even under the interim ZoI, construction activities may not be banned in the entire zone and could be regulated based on the scientific and hydrological characteristics of a particular site. He said that in the proposed interim ZoI, there could be a ban on blocking, diverting or clogging established inlet and outlet channels, natural drains or hydrological pathways.

Similarly, dumping of solid waste, construction waste, and other waste in sewers could be prohibited, and the discharge of untreated sewage, sewage, or wastewater into waterways associated with the wetland could be prohibited. Permanent changes to established hydrological connections could also be prohibited, and red-category industries with high pollution potential could be prohibited.

“In case of construction, it is not necessary to obtain an objection certificate from the District Wetland Management Committee in accordance with the proposed regulatory mechanism. The proposed regulatory framework is to ensure that development activities do not obstruct the natural flow of water to or from the Pallikaranai Ramsar site or adversely affect its ecological character while balancing the developmental needs of society and government,” the TNSWA report said.

He also told the court that the final ZoI will be determined only after completion of scientific and cadastral exercises and ground repairs in accordance with the Wetlands (Protection and Management) Rules, 2017 and the directions contained therein.

Published – 13 Oct 2026 05:30 IST