The Madras High Court adjourned the Pallikaranai Temporary Zone of Influence case to November 11

The Madras High Court on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) adjourned to November 11, 2026 a number of cases filed against the construction ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) within a one kilometer radius around the boundaries of Pallikaranai, a Ramsar site, in Chennai.

First Division Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan said they will meanwhile go through the report filed by the Tamil Nadu Wetlands Authority to declare 36 survey numbers covering 128.19 hectares as provisional zone of influence (ZoI).

The judges said that they would seek clarifications, if any, on the declaration of the provisional ZoI on the next date of hearing and then issue orders regarding the declaration that could be made pending the determination of the final ZoI after conducting the necessary studies.

The case was adjourned after hearing the arguments of Additional Solicitors General PV Balasubramaniam and T Gowthaman for TNSWA and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and Senior Counsel PS Raman, V Prakash and Srinath Sridevan for CREDAI-Chennai and other petitioners.

Mr. Raman told the court that the interim ZoI proposed by TNSWA was completely acceptable to all the petitioners before the court. He said that the TNSWA has left a sufficient buffer zone around the existing swamp boundaries and then identified the survey numbers that could be declared as provisional ZoIs.

Mr. Balasubramaniam said that the existing boundaries of the swamp itself are not final and that the actual area of ​​the swamps may shrink after the final designation. Thus, the existing buffer zone and interim ZoI would ensure protection of a sufficient extent of land around the marsh, he said.

A map of the provisional zone of influence proposed by the Tamil Nadu State Wetlands Authority around the Pallikaranai Swamps in Chennai. It was brought before the Madras High Court. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

In its latest report filed in the Supreme Court and served on the writ petitioners, TNSWA said the interim ZoI could cover survey numbers 283 and 284(P) in Enjabakkam village, 175(P), 177 and 189 in Karappakkam village and 407(P) in Okkiyam Thorailinganall village of Taluklinganall

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 a certificate of objection from the District Wetland Management Committee in accordance with the proposed regulatory mechanism. The objective of the proposed regulatory framework is to ensure that development activities do not impede the natural flow of water to or from the Pallikaranai Ramsar site or adversely affect its ecological character, while balancing the development needs of society and government,” the report said.

The TNSWA 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 Conservation and Management Rules, 2017 and the guidelines contained therein.

Published – 14 Oct 2026 21:33 IST