The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has revoked the Environmental Clearance (EC) granted to Brigade Enterprises Ltd. for its proposed large-scale residential project within the Pallikaranai marshland Ramsar site after finding that the company had allegedly commenced construction activities without obtaining mandatory permission from the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority, as reported in The Hindu.
The decision was taken during the 1,005th meeting of the SEIAA held on 8 May 2026, according to the minutes of the meeting and official records.
The Tamil Nadu State Environment Impact Assessment Authority has revoked the environmental clearance granted to Brigade Enterprises in January 2025 for construction of high rise residential towers near the Pallikaranai marshland, a designated Ramsar wetland site. The… pic.twitter.com/Y2TKQDlnnz
— Mohamed Imranullah S (@imranhindu) June 18, 2026
The action followed a communication from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority, who informed SEIAA that Brigade Enterprises had failed to comply with a project-specific condition attached to the environmental clearance granted to the project on 20 January 2025.
According to the records, the environmental clearance had been issued subject to a specific condition requiring the project proponent to obtain due permission from the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority before commencing any construction work, wherever applicable.
However, the Wetland Authority informed SEIAA that construction activities had already begun and that the company had not secured the required approval from the Wetland Authority prior to starting the project.
SEIAA observed that the failure to obtain mandatory permission before commencing work constituted a violation of the conditions attached to the environmental clearance.
The minutes of the meeting record that the Wetland Authority had specifically brought to SEIAA’s attention that the condition requiring prior permission from the Wetland Authority had not been complied with and that the project proponent had proceeded with construction activities before securing the necessary approval.
The Authority further noted that the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests had requested immediate action against the project under the environmental clearance conditions.
SEIAA recorded that non-compliance with the condition could result in withdrawal of the environmental clearance and attract action under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
After examining the communication and the alleged violations, SEIAA resolved to revoke the environmental clearance granted to the project.
The clearance withdrawn by SEIAA pertained to the Brigade Morgan Heights residential development proposed by Brigade Enterprises Ltd. The project envisages the construction of approximately 1,250 residential units spread across nearly 14.7 acres in Perumbakkam, an area that falls within the boundary of the internationally recognised Pallikaranai marshland Ramsar site.
The project has been at the centre of environmental concerns and legal challenges due to its location within the ecologically sensitive wetland region.
Environmental activists welcomed the SEIAA decision, describing it as a significant step towards protecting the Pallikaranai marshland ecosystem.
Anti-corruption and public interest organisation Arappor Iyakkam said it had raised complaints regarding approvals granted to the project before multiple authorities in October 2025. This project was alleged to be worth ₹2,000 crore.
A big corruption exposé: Tamil Nadu govt departments accused of giving environmental clearance and building permission for Brigade Morgan Enterprises project worth Rs 2,000 crore inside the ecologically-sensitive Pallikaranai Ramsar Site.
Anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam has… pic.twitter.com/ISrlshwleZ
— Omjasvin M D (@omjasvinMD) October 24, 2025
The organisation maintained that construction activities had begun without obtaining clearance from the Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority and argued that the revocation validated concerns raised by environmental activists.
Arappor Iyakkam also called upon the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to cancel the planning permission granted to the project.
Environmental group Poovulagin Nanbargal also welcomed the cancellation of the environmental clearance and urged the State Environment Department not to entertain any fresh application from Brigade Enterprises seeking a renewed environmental clearance for the project.
The organisation further called on the Tamil Nadu government to accelerate the identification, mapping and notification of wetlands across the State in accordance with the provisions of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
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