Don’t re-classify wetlands near Madurantakam: HC

Chennai

In what seems to be a shot in the arm for the protection of wetlands, the Madras High Court has directed the revenue officials of Madurantakam Taluk in Kancheepuram district to ensure there is no reclassification of wetlands. The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Lal and Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana gave the direction while disposing a PIL filed by E Thirugnana Selvam, a former ward member. The petitioner had submitted that the surface of Madurantakam lake is as much as 2,500 acres and the water in the lake is primarily used for drinking and agricultural purposes by villages nearby. Further, the lake water passing through five sluices caters to 2,583 acres of agricultural land and also to 40 sub-lakes.

He contended that ignoring all these aspects, the Tehsildar of Madurantakam Taluk has embarked on issuing patta to the residential plots near the lake area while the Municipal Commissioner has resorted to sanctioning building construction in and around the sluice areas. He stated that the move has affected more than 100 acres of agricultural lands. However, Government Pleader STS Moorthy submitted that no such conversion or issue of patta land is being done in the lake area and wetlands. The bench which recorded the Government submission in its order also directed the Madurantakam Tehsildar to look into the issue and ensure that no patta is issued and that no building comes up in violation of the norms. The first bench has also stressed that no re-classification of the land is done.