MADURAI
A Division Bench of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, comprising Justices K.K. Sasidharan and G.R. Swaminathan, on Thursday asked the authorities concerned to take appropriate action against those involved in commercial exploitation of groundwater, which affected ecological balance, in Pallapatti of Nilakottai taluk in Dindigul district.
In a public interest litigation petition, V. Thangapandian of Pallapatti had stated that the entire region was dependent on agriculture and drastic variations in groundwater level due to exploitation affected agricultural activities. It was also alleged that Mavur dam constructed more than 50 years ago for the purpose of water supply, flood control, irrigation, navigation, sedimentation control and hydro power was not maintained properly by Public Works Department.
The petition said the right to livelihood of residents of the village should be protected. It also stated that inaction by the authorities was in violation of the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Ground Water (Development and Management) Act, 2003.
