Is my plot in the Chennai aquifer recharge area?
In the aquifer recharge area along the coast south of Chennai, Annexure XVII clause 5(i) of the Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019 (TNCDBR) caps FSI at 0.8 and plot coverage at 40%, with a minimum plot of 220 sq.m (80 sq.m in natham or EWS areas). Drop a pin and the check says whether the plot is inside the area, near it (within 50 m), or outside, so you know which rules the building plan will meet.
Sign in with your phone to run it. You see the price and approve it before anything runs.
- Inside the aquifer recharge area or not, at the pin
- Honest coverage: Chennai only
- The severe layers (monument buffers, reserve forest, Ramsar wetland, swamp, flood, water bodies, the Redhills catchment) swept at the same pin, shown only if they hit
1 creditper run, charged when the register answers
What we need
One thing at a time. Fill it in and press Run.
The answer
From the register, with its date and source.
Nothing run yet. The answer appears here with everything this mini adds:
- Inside the aquifer recharge area or not, at the pin
- Honest coverage: Chennai only
- The severe layers (monument buffers, reserve forest, Ramsar wetland, swamp, flood, water bodies, the Redhills catchment) swept at the same pin, shown only if they hit
The aquifer recharge area, briefly
The aquifer recharge area is the sandy coastal strip between the Buckingham Canal and the sea, from the Chennai city limit south to the edge of the Chennai Metropolitan Area, where rain soaks into the groundwater the city draws on, so the building rules keep construction light.
- FSI and coverage
- 0.8 and 40%
Under TNCDBR 2019 Annexure XVII clause 5(i). In natham or EWS areas it is FSI 1.0 and 50% coverage.
- Minimum plot
- 220 sq.m
With a 12 m frontage. In natham or EWS areas the minimum is 80 sq.m with 4.5 m frontage.
- Height
- 9 m
Ground plus one floor, or stilt plus two. High rise buildings are not permitted in the area.
How to check if a plot is in the aquifer recharge area in Chennai
- 1
Place the pin
Tap the plot on the map, paste a Google Maps link to it, or use your location while you stand there.
- 2
Press Run
The survey parcel under the pin is found and the mapped aquifer recharge area is read at that point.
- 3
Read the answer
Inside, near (within 50 m) or outside, with the distance to the area. Then work out the buildable area in the FSI calculator, which applies the 0.8 cap.
When it helps with land
ECR and OMR plots
Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, Injambakkam, Karapakkam, Sholinganallur and Uthandi fall in the area. An FSI of 0.8 allows 40% of the floor area an FSI of 2.0 would.
Apartment plans
With a 9 m height cap and no high rise, a multi-storey project here will not get approval. Check before paying for land priced for one.
Small plots
Below 220 sq.m (or 80 sq.m in natham or EWS areas) a plot does not meet the minimum for building permission in the area.
The aquifer recharge area is mapped for Chennai only; elsewhere the answer is not covered, which is not the same as outside. Coastal parts of the area may also fall under the Coastal Regulation Zone, so run the CRZ check too. The planning authority's sanction is final. Price: 1 credit per pin, charged only when the layer gives a real answer.
Questions people ask
What is the aquifer recharge area in Chennai?
It is the coastal strip south of the Chennai city limit, between the Buckingham Canal and the sea up to the edge of the Chennai Metropolitan Area, where the groundwater is recharged. The building rules in Annexure XVII of TNCDBR 2019 limit construction there.
What is the FSI in the aquifer recharge area?
FSI is 0.8 with 40% plot coverage under TNCDBR 2019 Annexure XVII clause 5(i). In natham or EWS areas it is 1.0 with 50% coverage.
What is the minimum plot size in the aquifer zone?
220 sq.m with a 12 m frontage. In natham or EWS areas it is 80 sq.m with a 4.5 m frontage.
How tall can I build in the aquifer recharge area?
Up to 9 m: ground plus one floor, or stilt plus two floors. High rise buildings are not permitted in the area.
Which areas fall in the aquifer recharge zone?
Kottivakkam, Palavakkam, Neelankarai, Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, Injambakkam, Karapakkam, Sholinganallur and Uthandi. A pin settles it for an exact plot.
Why does it say not covered?
The aquifer recharge area is mapped for Chennai only. Outside Chennai the layer has no data, so the answer says not covered rather than clear.
How much does it cost?
1 credit per pin, charged only when the layer gives a real answer. A not covered or failed read is not charged.