BrigadeGroup has issued a clarification regarding the revocation of the Environmental Clearance (EC) for its residential project, Brigade Morgan Heights, in Perumbakkam, Chennai, stating that the project had secured all requisite statutory approvals and that it is pursuing legal remedies against the order.
The following statement has been issued by the company:
โBrigade Morgan Heights a Joint Development (JDA) between Brigade Group and a private landowner has received all requisite approvals from all authorities including the Environment Department, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and RERA in 2025. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging these approvals was filed in the Madras High Court in October 2025 and was subsequently dismissed. The press release issued by the Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department dated 28 October 2025, clarified that โthe lands are private patta lands and that the approvals were given by concerned authorities on private patta lands only and that final wetland boundaries remain undecidedโ, thereby affirming the validity of the approvals granted.
Notwithstanding this, the Environment Department has revoked the Environmental Clearance on May 11, 2026. We believe this action is not legally sustainable, particularly in light of all statutory approvals being duly obtained.
Brigade Group and the landowner, Morgan Asia Pvt Ltd. have filed an appeal before the Honโble Supreme Court of India, and the matter is currently sub judice.
Clarificationย
The revocation of the Environmental Clearance (EC) for our residential project โBrigade Morgan Heightsโ in Perumbakkam Village, Chennai by the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) is legally unsustainable, factually incorrect and arbitrary in nature and Brigade group strongly objects to the same.
We reiterate that the project site is private patta lands, classified as dry lands (โpunjaiโ) in revenue records dating back to 1935, and has been in the continuous possession of the current landowners since 1985. Brigade entered into a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with the Landowner for the land in 2022. Brigade also issued public notices at the time of entering into the JDA and also at the time of securing the EC in leading news papers, and no objections were received whatsoever.
Further, the press release issued by the Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department dated 28 October 2025, clarified that โthe lands are private patta lands and that the approvals were given by concerned authorities on private patta lands only and that final wetland boundaries remain undecidedโ. Till date, the project site does not fall within any notified wetland area under the applicable Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 and no authority has claimed otherwise.
Just three months prior to this cancellation, on February 10, 2026, the Hon’ble Madras High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation filed against the project wherein SEIAA, Tamil Nadu State Wetland Authority (โTNSWAโ) and other government authorities were made parties to the litigation. While dismissing the PIL, the HC concluded that until ground truthing is completed in the Ramsar process, the project lands could not be conclusively designated as wetlands. In the PIL which was heard over a period of 5 months, none of the authorities, including SEIAA and TNSWA made any submissions stating that the project lands were wetlands or that the approvals granted should be cancelled.
Furthermore, the reason for cancellation of the EC cited is based on a generic condition appearing in all ECs issued by the SEIAA stating that โthe project proponent shall obtain permission from the Wetland Authority โif applicableโ. In our specific case, since these are private patta lands and none of the authorities have declared conclusively that the project lands are wetlands, even as recently as during the PIL before the HC, this condition is not applicable.
The SEIAA convened the meeting to discuss the cancellation of EC on 08 May 2026 and issued the cancellation order on 12 May 2026. BrigadeGroup was not provided with any prior notice, personal hearing, technical discussion, site verification, or an opportunity to submit any documentary evidence or be heard and this revocation order had come as a complete shock. Revoking a validly granted clearance after the bona fide commencement of project activities, where substantial investments have been made, construction ongoing, and third-party rights created, without a fair hearing is procedurally improper and blatantly violates all principles of natural justice.
We are given to understand that the proposed Ramsar site and its corresponding Zone of Influence covers more than 11,000 acres in the heart of South Chennai and that other projects and private landowners are also now being impacted similarly. Hence, thisimpacts the general public, property owners, developers & builders and impacts the development of entire South Chennai. This ย is not just an issue that affects Brigade ย alone.
Given these facts, the basis for the cancellation remains unclear. We are appealing against this order and exploring all appropriate legal and regulatory remedies available before us.โ
