Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner D. Karthikeyan on Tuesday informed the Madras High Court that a plan to restore the marshland at Pallikaranai here was at an advanced stage and that the works would commence soon. The submission was made before a Division Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and Krishnan Ramasamy.
When the judges broached the subject during the hearing of a case related to unauthorised constructions in the city, the Commissioner said that a detailed report for restoration of the marsh land had been prepared with the assistance of an external agency and submitted to the State government for its approval.
“The Finance Secretary has concurred with the proposal. It is in an advanced stage and will be implemented shortly,” the Commissioner told the court. He said that a waste management plan as per European standards would be devised to prevent dumping of garbage on the marsh land and it would be protected well.
After recording his submission, the senior judge in the Bench pointed out that not only dumping of garbage but also frequent burning of it causes air pollution in the locality. “Even chemicals are being dumped over there. It is one of the beautiful marshlands in Chennai city. We should safeguard it at all costs,” the judge said.