Chennai Metropolitan Area Environment Policies and Strategies
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority issued this environment plan for the Chennai Metropolitan Area to address pollution, protect environmentally sensitive areas and guide environmentally responsible development. It proposes conservation measures, development regulations, agency responsibilities and monitoring arrangements affecting public authorities, local bodies, residents, landowners, developers and businesses.
Scope
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority environment plan covers both natural resources and the built habitat of the Chennai Metropolitan Area. Natural resources include air, water, land, forests and open spaces, while the built habitat includes water supply, sewerage and solid waste disposal.
The plan records serious pollution in the Cooum River, Adyar River, Buckingham Canal, Captain Cotton Canal, Otteri Nallah and Mambalam drain. It also identifies vehicular and industrial air pollution, waste disposal at Kodungaiyur and Perungudi, plastic waste, excessive traffic noise, limited declared park and forest cover, and climate risks affecting coastal Chennai.
Who it affects
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority plan treats environmental protection as a shared responsibility of government agencies, non-government bodies, residents and entrepreneurs. Principal stakeholders include the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, local bodies, the Department of Environment of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.
Property owners, buyers and developers may be affected where land falls within an environmentally sensitive or conservation area. The plan also incorporates land and building use regulations intended to achieve green building parameters and increase greenery in developments.
Key policies and actions
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority plan proposes:
- Designating the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board as the nodal agency for regional environmental matters.
- Strict enforcement of coastal regulations.
- Long-term environmental conservation and enhancement plans from development agencies and local bodies.
- Reducing pollution in Chennai waterways to acceptable standards, followed by progressive improvement.
- Encouraging grey water recycling and harvesting.
- Considering traffic calming, pedestrian precincts and measures to reduce vehicle emissions.
- Planting trees along public roads and within public premises, with local participation.
- Maintaining existing parks and playgrounds and providing new ones.
- Protecting coastal areas, beaches, Pallikkaranai swamp and other environmentally sensitive locations.
- Promoting conservation of heritage buildings and precincts through incentives and Development Regulations.
Monitoring and implementation
The Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority plan provides for a Land use and Environment Committee with government representatives, non-government stakeholders and experts. The committee is to monitor implementation, commission studies, gather information and meet at least once every three months. An annexed map shows eco-sensitive and other conservation areas.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Could this plan affect development on my property?
Yes, if the property is in an environmentally sensitive or conservation area, or is subject to land and building use regulations intended to support green building parameters and additional greenery.
How can I identify the conservation areas covered by the plan?
A map showing eco-sensitive and other conservation areas is annexed to the plan. The supplied text does not provide a parcel-level checking procedure.
Who is responsible for environmental monitoring in the Chennai Metropolitan Area?
The plan identifies the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board as the nodal agency for the environment sector and describes it as the standard-setting and monitoring agency for pollution control and abatement.
Is funding available for community environmental projects?
Under the Community Based Environmental Programme, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority provides 80% of project cost as a grant, while the local body and community contribute 10% each. Each local body can receive a maximum grant of Rs 15 lakhs per year.
