Random conversion of wetlands harmful: Madras High Court

Chennai: Indiscriminate conversion of wetlands for urbanisation leads to manifold problems, including deluge and this remains unchecked without any planning, held Madras high court.

Directing the state government to consider suggestions put forth by a writ petitioner, the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R. Mahadevan passed the order when a PIL filed by SD Premchand, former chairman of Madurantakam municipality came up for hearing before it.  

The petitioner submitted that unchecked conversion of wetlands was a prime reason that led to catastrophic deluge in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Cuddalore districts in December last year.

Land owners wantonly leave their wetlands uncultivated for three to five years and then cleverly secure permission from collector, local body and the local administration department for conversion of wetlands into residential plots. This has caused floods and droughts, he contended and offered a set of suggestions to overcome the issue.

Of the 80 per cent wetlands in the 1980s, only 15 per cent remain. This was primarily due to unplanned rampant urbanisation, he said. One of the methodologies used for seeking conversion of wetland is to let it fallow for a few years and claim it to be dry, and thereafter seek conversion, his counsel said.

Though certain amendments have been made in Town and Country Planning Act, 1971 with effect from January 1, 2011, by inserting Section 47-A in respect of conversion of wetland for other purposes, there exist certain loopholes as set out by him in his representation dated January 12, 2016, which are in the nature of suggestions, for further amendment to plug these loopholes.

The first bench called upon the state government to look into the suggestions of the petitioner for amendment of Section to further subserve the intent of  amendment carried out on January 1, 2011, for preserving wetland areas.