The members of the Alliance of Resident Welfare Associations (ARWA) passed a resolution that the Association will take all possible steps to restore the Pallikaranai Marshland to its original dimension, conserve it and oppose the development of an Eco Park inside the marshland.
The meeting was held at the office of Sri Kapaleeswarar Residents Welfare Association, Neelankarai, on June 16, after media reports stated that the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has gone on appeal against the direction of the Green Tribunal to hand over the marshland to the Forest Department. The GCC is also pursuing its earlier decision to convert part of the marshland into Eco Park.
In the meeting, members also raised concerns that the marshland has dwindled to a mere 1482 acres as of date, from its original area of 13590 acres in 1952.
“Consequent to various petitions / cases / Suo motu applications, the National Green Tribunal, by its orders of different dates, has directed that: (a) The marshland be declared as “reserved forest”, reiterating the orders of various Government Departments / Courts; (b) The unauthorised occupants are evicted from the area; and (c) Survey of the area be undertaken, duly marking the boundaries. But no effective steps have been taken by the authorities concerned to carry out the orders, despite various directions, the dumping yard at Perungudi marsh continues to pose serious threats to human habitation nearby,” stated their press release.
The members also shared their concern on GCC’s plan to develop an Eco Park at the marshland despite the idea being rejected by the public at the Public Session organised by GCC on Feb.5. “This move by the GCC will kill and eliminate flood – mitigating capacity of the marshland,” opined the members.
