Taking a serious note of private parties using Kodaikanal lake for commercial activities, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed that all boating activities by private parties should stop forthwith.
A Division Bench of Justices T.S. Sivagnanam and R. Tharani observed that none of the parties concerned had a valid licence to operate boats in the lake. The court took cognisance of the fact that Kodaikanal Boat and Rowing Club and Carlton Hotel were using the lake for commercial activities.
The court was hearing a petition filed by S. Arockiasamy, representing Kodai Smile Environment and People’s Welfare Development Trust, who alleged that the club and hotel were using the lake despite the fact that the municipality was the sole authority to use it.
Taking note of the fact that the club owned over 200 boats, the court said all the boats should be lined up at a corner of the lake and Kodaikanal Municipality should ensure that they did not drift. Boat services provided by the hotel to guests should stop, the court said.
Adjourning the case till November 25, the court allowed the parties to file counter affidavit and said that the boating club’s ticket counters should remain closed till further orders.
