Who will SAVE Pallikaranai Marsh?

Traveling along the Pallavaram-Thuraipakkam Radial Road, we encounter the lush green expanse of the Pallikaranai marshland, home to more exotic migratory birds and insects than Vedanthangal. This marshland supports a diverse ecosystem with 115 bird species, 10 mammals, 21 reptiles, 10 amphibians, 46 fish, 9 molluscs, 5 crustaceans, and 7 butterfly species. Notable inhabitants include Russell's viper (Daboia siamensis) and birds such as the glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), grey-headed lapwings (Vanellus cinereus), and pheasant-tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus).

- VINITHA VENKATESHA

However, before the road ends, we witness mountains of piled-up waste, a man-made blight on this natural habitat. Environmentalists and ecologists assert that the Pallikaranai marshland is the liver of Chennai, capable of mitigating droughts and floods if properly maintained. Despite being recognized as a Ramsar site for over a year, the marsh is at risk of losing this designation if the government does not take immediate action. On this World Environment Day, let's know more about the Pallikaranai marshland and the severe pollution it faces.

In 1972, the Pallikaranai marshland spanned 13,500 acres, but it has now shrunk to 1,200 acres. The government has been using this critical area, known as the liver of Chennai, as a dumpyard, receiving about 6,000 metric tonnes of garbage daily. A survey submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in January 2024 revealed that out of the total 1,206.59 hectares (ha) of the Pallikaranai marshland, the Forest Department controls 749 ha, while the Corporation holds 173.56 ha, with other public and private institutions also possessing parts of the land. According to the Corporation's report, it possesses 445 acres, of which around 250 acres have been used for solid waste management for over three decades. The survey indicates that 38% of the Pallikaranai marshland is under legal and illegal occupation, as reported to the Southern Bench of the NGT by the T.N. government.