HC seeks State’s response on time required to comply with earlier order on dedicated website containing list of waterbodies

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday sought response from the State on the time required to comply with the earlier court order to open a dedicated website containing an exhaustive list of all waterbodies in Tamil Nadu.

A Division Bench of Justices G. R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalendhi sought response from the State government while hearing the contempt petition filed by advocate R. Manibharathi of Madurai who complained that the earlier court order was not complied with. The court adjourned the hearing in the case by one week.

In March, the court had directed that the website should contain relevant details pertaining to waterbodies (including tanks, lakes, rivers, kanmois, etc...,), survey number, physical location, details of village, taluk and district and extent (both original and present). Their area and dimensions would have to be precisely measured and catalogued. The website meant for viewing by all should be opened in six months, the court had said.

Further, the court had directed that existing encroachments on waterbodies should be identified and removed after issuing notice to encroachers. If constructions had been made, they should be demolished. Further encroachments should not be permitted and they should not be regularised.

The court had issued the directions on the public interest litigation petitions filed in 2023 by advocate R. Manibharathi of Madurai who had challenged the implementation of the projects involving formation of roads on the bunds of Vandiyur and Thenkal tanks in Madurai. The court had observed that the projects were conceived only in the larger public interest. It lifted the order restraining the implementation of the projects allowing the works to resume and disposed of the petitions.

The advocate has also filed a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to the authorities to remove the constructions made on the bunds of Vandiyur tank under the guise of beautification and restore it to its original position. He said that the Public Works Department had granted the No Objection Certificate only to develop the tank as an eco-friendly place and no permission or NOC was granted for construction activities. The court adjourned the hearing in the case by one week.

Published - November 29, 2024 08:31 pm IST