Chennai: Tahsildars and revenue department staff, who had worked in Pallikaranai helping illegal land registrations, are now spending sleepless nights. Forest and revenue departments pulled up by the Madras high court for not protecting the marshland have been asked to file a report on all illegal land registrations along with details of erring officials who failed to protect wetlands from the real estate mafia.
An informed senior forest officer said areas like Maposi Nagar, Kannagi Nagar and Dr Ambedkar Nagar located in Pallikaranai have the maximum number of illegal land registrations where marshland that belongs to the forest department has been encroached upon by more than 40 per cent.
Private educational institutions have grabbed acres of land and there are high rise buildings constructed violating the environmental norms near Okkiyum Madagu, the official said.
“We are preparing a draft highlighting the boundaries of forest department with the dimensions of the Pallikaranai range. The same would be submitted to the court and it’s for the court to decide on the next course of action”, the official added.
Pallikaranai is not just a breeding ground for migratory birds; it is the natural buffer zone for the entire south Chennai preventing annual floods, opined Mr K.V.R. K. Thirunanaran, founder, The Nature Trust.
The recent observation by the court has brought cheers for the bird watchers in Chennai and encroachments have to be cleared at the earliest so that the birds visit, breed in Pallikaranai without any disturbance.
