Chennai: Highlighting the importance of protecting Marshland Palikarani, Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to take effective steps to declare the Waterbody of the Ramsar site.
Justice N Kirubakan has also directed the country to declare the region as a protected wetland under the law of wetlands and explores the feasibility of declaring the region as a bird protection below the Law of Wildlife Protection.
(Kirubakan Retired Justice on August 19, but a copy of the order is available now).
Other instructions issued by the court include the relocation of the perungudi dump yard and harbor to alternative sites and prevent the disposal of city solid waste to swamp land.
The court has also ordered encroachment surveys, unauthorized settlements and direct relocation they are followed by any evictions that are feasible for the country.
The authorities must also identify and cancel the pattas obtained illegally because areas fall under the swamp, said the judge.
Directing the ban on all types of non-forestry activities in Pallikarani Marsh, the court has ordered the state to regain land owned by industries and government institutions in the area.
“Move all institutions, individuals and industries that have been allocated land identified as the formation of parts of Marsh Palikarani,” said the court.
In addition to directing the authorities to organize awareness programs for people who live around the swamp to enlighten them the importance of land, the court wants the country to form the Committee of Conservation Palikarana.
This is separate, the court has also directed the authorities to complete the fence work around the land of the swamp and eliminate blocks that block the flow of free water to swamp soil.