According to CREDAI Chennai, the identified zone extends across more than 10 villages covering about 8,397 acres in parts of Chennai’s Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) corridor.
Addressing a press conference in Chennai on Tuesday, Viswajith Kumar, Vice-President of CREDAI Chennai and Managing Director of Navin Housing & Properties Pvt. Ltd., said that the measure had resulted in fresh planning approvals being withheld within the identified area.
Reiterating that CREDAI Chennai supported the protection of wetlands, he said that the association wanted the statutory process under the Wetland Conservation and Management Rules, 2017, to be completed before the zone of influence was implemented.
In September 2025, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed that no approvals be granted for new construction or development projects within the Pallikaranai Ramsar site and the surrounding one-kilometre Zone of Influence. The Tribunal said that the restriction would remain in force until the actual impact boundary of the wetland was determined through a scientific study.
Following the NGT’s order, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), within 15 days, issued instructions in October 2025 to its officials not to grant planning permissions for new projects within the Ramsar boundary and the notified one-kilometre Zone of Influence.
CREDAI Chennai’s concern was with the implementation of the one-kilometre zone of influence and not with the protection of the Pallikaranai Marsh, Viswajith Kumar said.
He said that the Pallikaranai Marsh comprised 698 hectares of reserve forest notified under the Tamil Nadu Forest Act in 2007. He said that an additional 550 hectares was included when the wetland was declared a Ramsar site in 2022, taking the total notified area to 1,248 hectares. According to him, a one-kilometre zone of influence covering about 3,358 hectares had also been identified around the wetland.
The statutory process, including ground verification, public consultation, draft notification and final notification, was yet to be completed. The Integrated Management Plan for the wetland was under preparation, Viswajith Kumar noted.
He argued that the zone of influence should be determined based on hydrology, catchment characteristics and site-specific conditions rather than through a uniform one-kilometre boundary.
Viswajith Kumar said that the restrictions affected residential layouts, industries, IT parks, educational institutions, hospitals, government offices and Metro Phase II infrastructure.
He pointed out that the National Institute of Wind Energy, the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai One IT SEZ, Kamakshi Memorial Hospital, Apollo Medical Centre and Global Hospital were among the facilities located within the identified area.
CREDAI Chennai estimated that the restrictions could affect business activity worth about Rs 51,735 crore, while the direct and indirect impact on government revenue and the wider economy could be around Rs 19,790 crore.