PMK chief demands demolition of Pallikaranai Marsh constructions

The PMK president has demanded the immediate demolition of a retaining wall and walkway currently being built within Pallikaranai Marsh, citing environmental and public welfare concerns. According to the party chief, the structures obstruct the natural flow of rainwater through the wetland, exacerbating flooding in adjoining localities including Pallikaranai and Jalladianpet during monsoon seasons.

The constructions have disrupted the marsh's capacity to absorb and distribute rainfall naturally, forcing residents to resort to mechanical pumping of stagnant rainwater into the marsh itself—a costly and inefficient workaround. The PMK leader argues that such interventions compromise the ecological function of the protected wetland, which historically serves as a natural flood buffer for the region.

Pallikaranai Marsh, one of Chennai's largest surviving wetlands, has faced repeated encroachment and developmental pressures. Environmental advocates have warned that unauthorized structures within the marsh threaten its biodiversity and undermine its critical role in urban water management and flood mitigation.

The demand comes as Chennai continues to grapple with chronic flooding during the northeast and southwest monsoons, with experts increasingly attributing recurrent waterlogging to the degradation of natural water-retention systems like marshes and lakes.