The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday initiated a suo motu public interest litigation petition taking cognisance of a news report published in The Hindu on the dumping of garbage in Panaiyur and Anuppanadi channels. The court observed that it was distressing to see the pictures published along with the report.
The Hindu had reported that due to the waste being dumped in the channels, mosquito infestation had reached worrying levels. The residents of Nelpettai Market area, where the channels pass through, expressed their anxiety over the outbreak of dengue.
The report also stated that as the inner lanes were not cleaned, residents resorted to dumping waste in the channels.
A division bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Nisha Banu observed that the court cannot but take judicial notice of the several reports of incidents of dengue and death on account of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.
The court further observed that dumping of garbage on roads and channels and the failure to clean market areas posed health hazards and could cause diseases.
The court directed the Madurai Corporation to take immediate steps to clean the channels and submit a report on October 27. It also directed the district administration to render cooperation and take necessary steps. The State and the Corporation were impleaded as parties in the petition.
Grand Anicut Canal
The court also initiated a suo motu public interest litigation petition for cleansing the Grand Anicut Canal passing through Thanjavur district. Notice was directed to the Thanjavur Corporation. The State was impleaded as a party in the petition. The case has been posted for October 27.
