Halt Dubious Real Estate Project Along Madambakkam Lake

Madambakkam lake, spread over about 247 acres in Survey No.708, has been listed as an ISRO-identified wetland and included in the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment (NWIA). The residents said that the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 and the National Disaster Management Authority's urban flooding guidelines required a 50-metre buffer for the wetland.
The development under question is located in Survey Nos.768, 769 and 723, on the northern side of the lake. According to the residents' representation, the compound wall of the project has been constructed along the FMB boundary of the lake, leaving no buffer between the lake and the development. The issue has been brought to the attention of government authorities since May 2024, the residents say.
Residents have also raised concerns over the site's vulnerability to flooding. The representation states that the area under development has previously been submerged during monsoon and that this was mentioned in a Water Resources Department (WRD) No Objection Certificate. The WRD had suggested raising the elevation of the entire site, according to the document.

Residents fear that raising the site, coupled with what they describe as inadequate drainage, could increase inundation risks in neighbouring residential areas. They have urged authorities to intervene before the project is completed and properties are offered for sale. The representation has also sought clarity on the project's environmental clearance, planning permission and land categorisation.
The issue has also raised questions over the approval process. In an RTI response, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) said that it was not aware of the buffer-zone compliance requirements applicable to an ISRO-listed wetland. Residents have questioned how approval was granted for a project immediately adjoining the lake.

The Madambakkam residents and the Save Madambakkam Lake Campaign (SMLC), along with other groups, have reportedly submitted representations to various government agencies since 2024. The correspondence includes petitions to the CM grievance cell, communications to the WRD, CMDA, Revenue authorities and the Tambaram Corporation, besides representations to the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority (TNSWA).

The matter also reached the National Green Tribunal's Southern Bench. It also records that an intervention application submitted before the tribunal was not accepted. Apart from seeking a halt to the project, the residents have called for verification of the project's land documents and statutory approvals and for enforcement of the 50-metre buffer around Madambakkam lake. They have also sought measures to prevent sewage from entering the lake, desilt the waterbody, digitally survey and fence its boundaries, undertake native tree plantation, periodically remove water hyacinth and monitor water quality.

The issue assumes significance ahead of the Northeast Monsoon, as residents say development and elevation of land adjoining a major waterbody could have implications for local drainage and flood management.