Coming to the rescue of a village panchayat in Kancheepuram district which had waged a struggle against the unauthorised tapping of water for commercial purposes by unknown persons, the Madras High Court has directed the District Collector to close all the deep borewells concerned within 15 days.
Passing the order on the local body’s writ petition, Justice T.S. Sivagnanam pointed out that the tapping of groundwater in Sonalur Panchayat in Tirupporur Panchayat Union was for commercial purposes and not for personal consumption of the individuals. In such circumstances, the indiscriminate drawing of water by sinking deep borewells and its sale could not be permitted.
S. Sankar, the panchayat president, sought a direction to the Collector and others to prevent extraction of drinking water from the village and its transport by lorries and tractors.The panchayat had raised objections, passed resolutions and submitted representations to the authorities, but no action was taken.
In the counter, the BDO and the Tahsildar, Tiruporur, virtually accepted the petitioner’s submissions. Mr. Justice Sivagnanam said since the drawing of water was unauthorised, authorities should prevent the activity. Disposing the petition, he directed the Collector and others to immediately close the bore wells.
