Mapping of Perungudi dumpyard set to be taken up for restoration of Ramsar site in Pallikaranai

The State government, the Chennai Corporation, and other agencies are set to start mapping of the dumpyard in Perungudi, to prepare for the eventuality of handing over the land to the Forest Department in future, as part of Ramsar site requirements. Owing to residents’ protests, the government started exploring various options including, preparing to vacate the Perungudi dumpyard in the Pallikaranai marshland which has been declared a Ramsar site. However, a final decision is expected to be taken based on NGT orders and residents’ demand. 

On Tuesday, civic officials held a meeting to discuss mapping of the Perungudi dumpyard and various issues related to the Ramsar site. 

The Chennai Corporation has already handed over 340 acres of land to the Forest Department following a demand by residents in 2012 but had refused to hand over 250 acres of the dumpyard on the northern side of Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road. Only after residents launched protests owing to the declaration of Ramsar site, the GCC has started shelving projects, including the eco-park in 92 acres of bio mined land.

GCC has been dumping waste in 250 acres of Perungudi dumpyard inside the Pallikaranai marshland. The civic body has earmarked 225 acres for biomining and has been dumping fresh waste in 25 acres. The Chennai Corporation has completed three packages of biomining in two parcels of lands measuring 35 acres each and another measuring 22 acres. Work on biomining another parcel of land in the Perungudi dumpyard measuring 53 acres is expected to be completed in 30 days.

Federation of Thoraipakkam Residents Welfare Association’s president A. Francis said residents have planned to hold a meeting next Saturday to make a decision on protests against waste management work in the Ramsar site.

Save Pallikaranai Marshland Forum convenor S. Kumararaja said the residents have demanded the State government to order civic agencies such as the Chennai Corporation and Metrowater to shift their facilities from the Pallikaranai marshland area. “The government agencies should stop polluting the Pallikaranai marshland,” he said.