“When water fails, functions of nature cease,” the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court observed while lamenting the poor water management system in the State. The court was hearing a slew of writ petitions filed in public interest from across southern districts seeking directions for removal of encroachments from waterbodies.
Observing that there was a need to restore the waterbodies for future generations, the High Court Bench summoned the Collectors of Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts, taking cognisance of the situation in these places. The court has since initiated steps through the district administration for restoration of waterbodies on a war footing.
A Division Bench of Justices T. Raja and Krishnan Ramasamy gave directions. The first step was for removal of encroachments. Observing that even trees had to be removed, the court said that they could not be used as a shield against eviction. However, the court said that the trees on the bunds could stay as it would tighten the bunds.
Hearing the petitions seeking directions for Madurai district, the court directed the Collector to initiate steps in Teppakulam, Madakulam, Vandiyur and Tirupparankundram tanks and other small waterbodies. It directed the authorities to desilt before taking steps to fill them with water. The district administration was directed to remove debris and waste from waterbodies and ensure that sewage is not let into them.
During the course of hearing, Madurai Collector S. Natarajan submitted that two committees - Vaigai River Restoration Committee and Water Bodies Restoration Committee, with Tahsildars, officials from Public Works Department and Revenue Department - had been formed to take up the cause.
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Natarajan said that as per court orders, waterbodies would be taken up one by one for restoration. He said that the task was first taken up along Panaiyur channel in which over 190 encroachments were removed. Also the encroachments - 16 houses - along Vandiyur channel had been removed, he said. Removal of Proposis juliflora (karuvelam) trees would also be given top priority, he said.
District Revenue Officer R. Gunalan said that both the committees, comprising 52 teams, were holding periodic meetings and a status report would be submitted to the court in the next hearing.
However, the amicus curiae in the case, senior advocate Veera Kathiravan, complained that restoration work was going at a snail’s pace. He alleged that the administration was not aware of the extent of tanks in the district.
Quoting an example, he said that during a visit to the Vandiyur tank, it was a resident who had pointed to the existence of an oorani nearby, which was not known to officials.
There were no records to show its existence. The PWD was blaming the Madurai Corporation, which, in turn, was blaming the Revenue department for the slow pace of work, he said.
Advocate R. Gandhi, who filed a petition seeking a direction for construction of check dams, said the Vaigai, the lifeline of Madurai, was not a perennial river and hence water had to be stored as and when it rained to boost water retention and penetration to increase the groundwater table.
The best way to do this was construction of check dams. But the check dams should be properly maintained.
P.S. Suresh, an agriculturalist, said that there was a time when most of the tanks were full and the groundwater table in the city was good. But, over the years, the scenario had changed vastly due to indiscriminate sand mining in tanks, so much so that one had to deploy heavy machinery and sink deeper and deeper to get water. The authorities must ensure the restoration work were carried out swiftly and effectively, he said.
The district administration consented to the construction of two check dams, one at Albert Victor Bridge and the other at Obula Padithurai.
It will also take up restoration of supply channel from the Vaigai to Mariamman Teppakulam.
Similar Waterbodies Restoration Committees have been formed in Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts. The Collectors will submit a status report to the court on the extent of the work carried out so far when the case comes up for hearing this week.
