CHENNAI: Repeated directions from the Madras high court on protecting water bodies have had no effect, with the eco-sensitive Pallikaranai marshland being grabbed by encroachers who have laid a road into it and are dumping garbage there, say residents.
The environment department, water resources department and the city corporation have turned a blind eye to this menace, they allege.
Residents of Netaji Nagar adjoining the marshland said they spotted garbage trucks dumping debris there and a road being laid on Friday. Geo-located photos shared by the residents show debris being dumped in the heart of the marshland.
Sajeevan P, a social activist in Perungudi, said this had been happening for more than a week. “It is being done with local political support. First they dump debris. Then they sell the area as plots for as low as ₹3 lakh each. That’s how many adjoining areas in the marshland came up. People from outside Chennai buy these cheap plots,” said Sajeevan, who has worked around the marshland for flood relief activities.
TOI shared the images with environment department additional chief secretary Supriya Sahu, who saw them but did not respond. Greater Chennai Corporation executive engineer Purushothaman said he would look into the issue.
Darwin Annadurai, an environmental scientist and founder of Eco Society India, said the government must immediately fence the marshland. “A wetland delineation study must be done to identify water lands and terrestrial lands. Then the wetland must be fenced,” he said.
Such grabbing of a water body would lead to destruction of the ecosystem. “It will affect wildlife such as fish and birds there. When there are no fish, the birds won’t come. The illegal activities also affect the water flow. We have to at least protect whatever is remaining in the marshland,” he said.
V Ravi, a resident of Pallikaranai, said during the 2015 floods, the whole locality was flooded. “The marshland is an important catchment area into which excess water flows during rain. If it is obstructed by unauthorised constructions, we are going to see floods again,” he said.
