The Madras High Court granted permission to the Tamil Nadu Government to undertake the strengthening and improvement of ponds and other public-related projects on the 160.86 acres reclaimed from the Madras Race Club (MRC) at Guindy in Chennai. The court ruling signifies that the State government now has full control over the entire land. This decision was made by a Division Bench consisting of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice Mohammed Shafiq after considering arguments presented by Senior Counsel and Rajya Sabha Member P Wilson, supported by D Ravichandran SGP representing the State Government. The reclaimed land, valued at Rs 6,500 crores, was recovered from the Madras Race Club on September 9, 2024, following the termination of a lease deed that was originally granted for 99 years before independence, totaling 180 years. The MRC had filed a suit contesting the termination and resumption of possession, which is currently pending before a Single Judge. The government has already allocated 118 acres to the Horticulture Department for the Eco Park project, aimed at creating an integrated flood mitigation approach to safeguard Chennai from monsoon disasters. The Eco Park project is designed to address rising temperatures and urban heat stress while fulfilling green coverage requirements. The court's interim order, inhibiting the progress of infrastructure projects during the monsoon season, has raised concerns about urban safety in flood-prone areas like Velachery, Adambakkam, Guindy, Madipakkam, and Pallikaranai. The State government argued for the suspension of the interim order due to the impending Northeast monsoon and the potential risks of floods causing severe damage to vulnerable regions. Representing the MRC, Mr PH Arvind Pandian highlighted previous hearings involving Justice SM Subramaniam regarding lease rent disputes.