Oorvani Foundation and Chennai Wetlands Action Collective conducted a half-day consultation session, bringing together researchers, civic groups, and residents across the Pallikaranai watershed region of the Kovalam basin to identify concerns and strengthen collaboration.

Participants formed the Pallikaranai Collective during the session held at IIT-Madras Research Park on Saturday, and sought to develop a People’s Charter for the Pallikaranai Watershed, which is critical to the city’s ecological health.

The wetland is critical to Chennai’s ecological health and flood resilience.

S. Janakarajan, president of the South Asia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Resources Studies, said that stress on the ecosystem had been building up over the past few decades, with government agencies focusing on urban development.

He said agencies such as the Greater Chennai Corporation, the Water Resources Department, and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority worked in silos.

Mr. Janakarajan further said that priority should be given to conserving water, and called for greater responsibility from developers in the waste management sector.

Radhakrishnan of Arappor Iyakkam said that the findings of the Thiruppugazh Committee report on flood mitigation measures had not yet been released publicly, and urged residents to seek accountability.

Dayanand Krishnan of Chitlapakkam Rising called for a comprehensive watershed-based map of the wetland, a release said.

Several concerns raised

Deepak V. of Suzhal Arivom raised concerns over Metro Rail construction activities within the marsh, sewage pollution, and biodiversity loss.

T.D. Babu of Nizhal; N. Udhayarajan and Nandakumar of the International Centre for Clean Water at IIT-Madras Research Park; and Muthu Karthick of Care Earth Trust also addressed the session.

Around 15 representatives of citizen groups from areas such as Thalambur, Madambakkam, Velachery, Perumbakkam, Sholinganallur, Chitlapakkam, and Sembakkam discussed issues such as urbanisation, shrinking wetlands, sewage pollution, and flood-related risks across the watershed.