Pallikaranai marshland management plan likely

Pallikaranai marsh, which was once a scenic wetland has lost its charm, mainly on account of rapid urbanisation. Photo: M.Karunakaran

An adaptive Pallikaranai marshland management plan, which proposes to strongly regulate solid waste disposal, establish a wetland centre and encourage nature-based learning and recreation is likely to be put in place soon.

Estimated to cost around Rs.15 crore, the plan recommends setting up digital boards, depictive murals, viewing decks and towers connected through walkways, aquaria, viewing telescopes, night-vision cameras and camera traps.

High-level inspections conducted

Two high-level inspections were conducted recently. The inspection team included the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Secretary since a large part of the marsh is currently being used for solid waste dumping by Chennai Corporation, said a senior official of the Environment and Forest Department.

A lot needs to be done to preserve the ecologically sensitive area. A plan has been evolved. It will be announced once the model code of conduct is withdrawn, the official said. A report ‘Adaptive Management Plan for the Conservation of Pallikaranai Marsh', submitted by Care Earth, a non-government organisation, has been sent to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to seek its approval. Broadening the scope of the debate beyond habitat preservation, the report establishes a clear link between the degradation of the Pallikaranai marsh and the recurrent floods that have plagued south Chennai.

Citing the research of an Indo-German team, which has been conducting a study for the past five years, the report states that though the average annual precipitation has remained consistent with the overall trend of the last 200 years, incidents of flooding in south Chennai have drastically increased, especially since 2001-2002.

A large part of south Chennai was historically a flood plain, which spread over 50 sq. km, comprised of a large marsh (Pallikaranai marsh), smaller satellite wetlands, large tracts of pasture land and patches of dry forests.

The original expanse of the marsh, estimated on the basis of the Survey of India toposheets (1972) and aerial photographs (Corona) of the year 1965 was about 5,500 ha, which has currently been reduced to about 600 ha.

Chief Wildlife Warden (Chennai) Gautam Dey said that the proximity to the IT corridor and unbridled real estate development are major threats to the marsh. “We are currently spending Rs.60 lakh to set up a green belt, signboards and other facilities.”

Jayasree Vencatesan of Care Earth said that apart from negotiating for the protection of wetlands, the aim of the report was to demand a better quality of life for the city's residents. “Recurrent floods and poor availability of potable water are major problems.

The marsh serves as a flood mitigation zone as well as groundwater recharge area. Also, more species have been recorded in Pallikaranai than in any other marshland in south India. It has to be converted into a usable green space for the residents of the city,” she said.