Anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam has accused multiple Tamil Nadu government departments of illegally granting environmental clearance and construction approval for a ₹2,000-crore housing project, allegedly located inside the ecologically sensitive Pallikaranai Ramsar wetland in Perumbakkam.
In a complaint submitted to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), the NGO alleged that the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) granted approvals for survey numbers 453, 495/2c, 496, 497, and 498, all of which fall under the marshland. The complaint included a 213-page annexure of evidence.
According to the NGO, CMDA’s Ramsar site and influence map shows these survey numbers cover 14.7 acres within the Pallikaranai Ramsar boundaries notified in April 2022. Despite this, Brigade Enterprises, which proposed the project named Brigade Morgan Heights, applied for environmental clearance from SEIAA on 9 August 2023, and for construction plan approval from CMDA on 15 February 2024, for 1,250 dwelling units.
Arappor Iyakkam accused the builder of misrepresenting the project’s location, claiming it was 1.2 km away from Pallikaranai marsh, when it is actually adjacent to survey number 534/4, recorded as part of the marsh in official revenue records. SEIAA granted permission for environmental impact assessment and subsequently requested additional details, including the latitude and longitude of the project boundary in relation to the marshland. The builder responded by seeking remarks from forest officials, who reportedly inspected the site and concluded that the project was 65 meters from the marsh, with a revenue land parcel in between. The NGO noted that the survey number of this intervening parcel was not disclosed, raising questions about the legality of the clearance.
The Water Resources Department, in a letter dated 1 August 2024, requested verification from the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) and SEIAA. SEIAA granted environmental clearance on January 20, 2025, followed by CMDA’s building approval three days later. Arappor Iyakkam pointed out that both the Environment Secretary and Housing Secretary are members of the State Wetland Authority, arguing that they cannot claim ignorance of the Ramsar site, its maps, or the notified survey numbers.
Historical land records also reveal discrepancies. The 1911 Perumbakkam resettlement register listed the last survey number in the village as 445. However, survey number 430, corresponding to the marsh, was subdivided into new plots up to number 546, creating additional revenue plots. While survey number 430 covered 643.9 acres in 1911, only 6.1 acres remained by 1993, and currently only 50 acres under survey number 534/4 are officially recognized as marshland. Under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, marshlands cannot be converted for non-wetland purposes, and permanent construction is prohibited.
Arappor Iyakkam convenor Jayaram Venkatesan emphasized that the Pallikaranai marsh, designated as a Ramsar site covering 3,081 acres, must be protected. He described the approvals for the project as a “clear case of collusion”. Attempts to obtain comments from Environment Secretary Supriya Sahu and CMDA Member Secretary G Prakash were unsuccessful.
A Brigade Group spokesperson defended the project, stating: “Brigade Morgan Heights is a joint development project with the landowner. The land is privately held and has been owned by the current landowner for many decades. Brigade Group has adhered to all applicable environmental regulations and project approval was granted only after a detailed site assessment by the authorities concerned.”
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
(Source: Times of India)
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