About 150 hectares of land in Pallikaranai marshlands will be handed over to the Forest Department for it to be declared as a Reserved Forest area.
A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary K.S. Sripathi here on Wednesday.
Sources in the Forest Department said they had surveyed the area, which is rich in bio-diversity. Researchers have recorded sighting of 23 of species of birds on this patch, they said.
Explaining the importance of the marshland, Jayshree Vencatesan, Managing Trustee, Care Earth, a bio-diversity organisation, said this portion of the marshland is very important to ensure the contiguity of the already declared Reserved Forest area; in terms of maintenance it is very important as it had stormwater drains and canals, which drained the excess water from the nearby areas into the sea through Oggiyam Maduvu and to take up pollution-related studies. The place is a cynosure for ornithologists and nature lovers, who could watch a large number of birds of different species in this portion of the marshland, she said.
If the 150 ha area on the northern portion of the marshland located on the Thoraippakam – Pallavaram Radial Road is declared as Reserved Forest it would become a role model for conservation efforts that harmonised research, action and people’s participation, she added.
Forest Department sources said Chennai Corporation would conduct a survey again and then its Council would pass a resolution to handover the place to the Forest Department. After that the area could be declared Reserved Forest.
