CHENNAI: The Union government told Parliament that it had received a proposal from Tamil Nadu to declare Pallikaranai marshland in Chennai a ‘Ramsar site’ – a wetland of international significance.
The state had recently launched a wetland mission to identify and map 100 wetlands in five years and restore ecological balance with a focus on livelihood options.
The Tamil Nadu Wetland Authority had sent the Pallikaranai proposal to the Centre on November 20. “The same has been submitted for approval by a competent authority,” Union minister of state for environment, forest and climate Ashwini Kumar Choubey told Lok Sabha to a query from DMK leader T R Baalu.
The Ramsar Secretariat in Switzerland declares wetlands as Ramsar sites after assessing proposals from the country’s designated administrative authority. The state government has advised the Chennai Corporation to relocate existing dump yards, Alandur and Perungudi. It also issued instructions to collectors of Chennai and Chengalpet to survey encroachments and unauthorised settlements in the marsh.
The Madras high court had recently ordered effective steps to declare the marsh as a Ramsar site.
“We are taking steps to declare it as a Ramsar site and as a bird sanctuary. We have already sent a proposal to the Centre for eco-restoration of Pallikaranai under Green Climate Fund, which includes entire eco-restoration, removal of invasive species, making it bird-friendly and planting trees and saplings that are suitable to the marsh,” Environment and forests secretary Supriya Sahu told TOI. A wetland has to meet at least one of the nine criteria to be declared as Ramsar site, while Pallikaranai fulfills seven of them.
The commissioner of land administration and GCC have been told to identify and cancel all illegal pattas in the area. The municipal administration and water supply department has been advised to arrest the disposal of municipal solid waste, sewage and effluents into the marsh.