Anbumani seeks demolition of retaining wall and walkway being built in Pallikaranai Marsh

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Thursday (October 22, 2026) demanded the demolition of a retaining wall and walkway being constructed in the Pallikaranai Marsh, alleging that the structures had obstructed rainwater flow and caused flooding at Pallikaranai and Jalladianpet.

In a statement, he said rainwater from the October 17 rainfall had accumulated in the two localities as it could not drain into the marsh because of the Forest Department’s ‘Neithal Restoration and Conservation Works’. He said a six-foot-high retaining wall was being built along a 3-km stretch of the marsh, along with a 2-km walkway, despite warnings that the structures would obstruct drainage. He added that an official’s assurance that pipes beneath the structures would facilitate water flow had proved incorrect.

Dr. Anbumani said he had voiced concern on September 4, while Pasumai Thaayagam president Sowmiya Anbumani and he inspected the site on September 6 and 12 respectively. He said that while rainwater drained within hours in several parts of Chennai that had received more than 30 cm of rain on October 17, the stagnant water at Pallikaranai and Jalladianpet had to be pumped into the marsh and had not yet drained completely.

He warned of flooding at Velachery and Perumbakkam if the heavy rain continued during the Northeast monsoon and demanded that the government halt the project, demolish the structures already built, and order an inquiry to identify those responsible for implementing it.