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Brigade Challenges Revocation of Chennai Project Clearance

2026-06-19

Brigade Group has challenged the revocation of the Environmental Clearance (EC) granted to its Brigade Morgan Heights residential project in Perumbakkam, Chennai, describing the decision as "legally unsustainable" and asserting that all statutory approvals for the development had been duly obtained.

The project, being developed through a Joint Development Agreement between Brigade Group and Morgan Asia Pvt Ltd, had secured approvals from the Environment Department, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) in 2025. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging these approvals was subsequently dismissed by the Madras High Court in February 2026.

According to Brigade, the Environment, Climate Change and Forest Department had earlier clarified in a press release dated 28 October 2025 that the project site comprised private patta land and that approvals had been granted accordingly. The company stated that the project land has been classified as dry land ("punjai") in revenue records since 1935 and has remained under private ownership for decades.

The developer has questioned the decision of the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to revoke the project's environmental clearance on 12 May 2026. Brigade contends that the revocation was carried out without prior notice, a personal hearing, technical review or an opportunity to present documentary evidence.

In a statement, the company said the project site does not fall within any notified wetland area under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, and noted that the Madras High Court had observed that the land could not be conclusively designated as a wetland until completion of the ongoing Ramsar site ground-truthing process.

Brigade Group and Morgan Asia have filed an appeal before the Supreme Court of India, where the matter is currently under consideration. The company said it is pursuing all available legal and regulatory remedies while maintaining that the cancellation order could have broader implications for landowners and development projects across South Chennai.

The dispute centres on the interpretation of environmental and wetland regulations and their applicability to the project site, with Brigade asserting that the approvals were granted in accordance with prevailing laws and regulatory requirements.

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