HC bans construction on Chitlapakkam Lake

Petitioner says encroachments have led to flooding

The Madras High Court has directed government authorities not to carry out any construction activities on the Chitlapakkam Lake and on the bund abutting it.

The First Bench of Chief Justice S.K. Kaul and Justice M. Sundar passed the order on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition moved by advocate S. Vaidyanathan, a resident of Chitlapakkam.

According to the petitioner, during every monsoon, the Chitlapakkam Lake overflowed and as there were no proper floodwater outlets in the lake, the water entered all the main arterial roads and layouts around it, causing untold hardship to the residents.

He said uncontrolled encroachments and construction activities on the banks of the lake with the apparent connivance of the local authorities were the major reason for the flooding.

“The illegal construction leads to water shortage in Chitlapakkam, where about 45,000 people are dependent on the lake for groundwater,” the petitioner said.

Violation of law

Alleging that the encroachments were in clear violation of the Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment Act, 2007, he wanted the court to restrain the authorities from permitting any construction in the waterbody.