Case Overview
The Madras High Court has scheduled a final hearing for 3 August 2026 on a petition that questions the authority of the NGT to impose a blanket ban on construction within a one‑kilometre radius of the Ramsar site of Pallikaranai marshland in Chennai.
Key Developments
- Senior counsel P.S. Raman of CREDAI-Chennai requested an early hearing because the ban affects 3,474 hectares (8,584.44 acres) of land.
- The ban has stalled building‑plan approvals for thousands of landowners across areas such as Puzhuthivakkam, Madipakkam, Pallikaranai, Sholinganallur, Perungudi, and Velachery.
- CMDA reports that 47 planning permissions are pending with it and more with the Greater Chennai Corporation.
- Satellite imagery shows that 84.2% (2,924 hectares) of the prohibited area is already densely populated with existing structures built before the 2022 Ramsar designation.
- The TNSWA says defining the zone of influence and preparing an IMP are complex tasks that cannot be rushed.
Important Facts
The marshland itself covers 1,247.54 hectares. The NGT’s order dated 24 September 2025 halted new construction permits within a one‑kilometre radius, even though scientific studies to demarcate the exact zone of influence have not been completed.
CMDA argues that imposing a blanket ban before finalising the IMP violates statutory procedures and causes severe hardship to landowners.
Exam Relevance
This case touches upon several UPSC‑relevant themes: environmental law and the role of specialised tribunals (NGT), urban planning and the powers of municipal bodies (CMDA), and the procedural requirements for designating protected zones under international conventions (Ramsar site).
Way Forward
The court is likely to examine whether the NGT can impose a fixed one‑kilometre ban without the scientific delineation of the zone of influence. A balanced approach may involve a temporary moratorium pending the completion of the IMP, while allowing pending building permits to be processed under strict compliance checks.