The Madras High Court has directed Nagapattinam Collector and Mayiladuthurai Municipal Commissioner to remove garbage and other wastes dumped into Palang (old) Cauvery as well as the water bodies connected to it. The officials were also ordered to evict the encroachers, if any, around the water bodies.
Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M. Sundar passed the order while disposing of a public interest litigation petition filed by V. Kanagasundaram, a resident of Mayiladuthurai situated in the Cauvery delta region. He had pointed out that both Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts were irrigated by the Cauvery.
Stating that a branch of Cauvery known as old Cauvery runs through the town of Mayilduthurai, the petitioner claimed that about 89 tanks and lakes received water from Palang Cauvery.
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Apart from these tanks, there were also several other tanks belonging to various temples which also received water from Palang Cauvery.
However, of late, the river as well as most of the tanks had been subjected to severe contamination due to dumping of garbage and solid wastes, including non-biodegradable wastes, he said and pointed out that such mindless dumping led to obstruction of free flow of water and depletion of the water level in those water bodies.