Pallikaranai Flooding: PMK Chief Demands Demolition of Retaining Wall, Order Probe
PMK chief Anbumani Ramadoss alleges a retaining wall in Pallikaranai wetland is causing floods and demands immediate demolition and an inquiry.
PMK President Dr Anbumani Ramadoss has raised a serious alarm over the flooding in Pallikaranai and Jalladianpet, alleging that the construction of a retaining wall and walkway within the Pallikaranai marshland has blocked the natural flow of rainwater. He has demanded that the government immediately demolish these structures and launch a formal inquiry into the project.
The 'Neithal' Project Under Fire
According to Dr Ramadoss, the Forest Department carried out the ‘Neithal Restoration and Conservation Works’ despite multiple warnings from the PMK. He claims that a retaining wall standing 6 feet high has been built across a 3-km stretch of the marshland, complemented by a 2-km walkway on its inner side. This infrastructure, he argues, acts as a barrier that prevents rainwater from draining into the wetland, leading to severe waterlogging in the surrounding neighborhoods.
The PMK leader highlighted that he had already urged the government to abandon the project and remove the existing structures in a statement issued on September 4 to prevent the very damage now being witnessed.
Warnings Ignored?
Dr Ramadoss detailed a series of site visits intended to warn the authorities about the potential risks:
- September 6: Dr Sowmiya Anbumani, president of Pasumai Thaayagam, inspected the site.
- September 12: Dr Anbumani Ramadoss personally visited the area.
He revealed that during his inspection, a Forest Department official assured him that large pipes installed beneath the walkway and wall would ensure the rainwater drained easily. However, the current state of flooding has cast serious doubt on those claims.
Evidence of Stagnation
Pointing to the rainfall on October 17, where some parts of Chennai received over 30 cm of rain, Ramadoss noted a stark difference in drainage. While most of the city saw water recede within hours, water remained stagnant in Pallikaranai and Jalladianpet. He alleged that the Forest Department has had to resort to using machinery to pump water into the marshland because the natural flow is obstructed.
Risk to Other Areas
With the northeast monsoon approaching, the PMK chief warned that continued heavy rainfall could lead to wider flooding. He urged the government to urgently assess the risks to other vulnerable areas, specifically mentioning Velachery and Perumbakkam.
Questioning Government Logic
Dr Ramadoss pointed out a glaring contradiction in the government's approach, questioning how the state can promote rainwater harvesting while simultaneously obstructing a natural rainwater storage system like the Pallikaranai marshland.
He further questioned the political continuity of the project, noting that it was conceived under the previous DMK government and is continuing under the current TVK government despite public opposition.
Demands for Accountability
Emphasizing that the marshland is a vital natural resource that requires protection rather than obstruction, Dr Ramadoss has called for:
- An immediate halt to all construction of the retaining wall and walkway.
- The total removal of the structures already built.
- A comprehensive inquiry into why the project was conceived and implemented.
- The identification and accountability of the officials responsible for initiating and executing the work.