Cracking the whip on the large-scale illegal extraction of groundwater around Chennai and its sale for exorbitant rates, the Madras High Court, which took cognisance of a media report, on Friday initiated suo motu contempt action against senior authorities and few individuals for the non-implementation of its judgment of October.
Justice S.M. Subramanian ordered action against Secretary of the Public Works Department, Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Central Ground Water Board, the Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Water Research Organization, and the State Ground & Surface Water Resources Data Centre for allowing a few individuals to commit illegalities in violation of the judgment.
“It is mandatory on the part of the State to ensure supply of water by regulating the same by avoiding illegal extraction for the purpose of selling the water for exorbitant price. Such an action is not only unconstitutional but is to be construed as a failure on the part of the State to honour the constitutional principles and further in violation of the judgment,” the judge observed.
The judge sought to know from the respondents as to what the actions initiated by the State were to regulate the extraction of groundwater and the actions taken on complaints sent by the public. “What are all the actions taken by the State in respect of illegal utilisation of agricultural power supply for the purpose of extraction of groundwater and to sell the water for exorbitant prices to the public at large?”
Answers sought
He sought to know the actions taken by the State in respect of extraction of groundwater through illegal borewells and further directed authorities to answer the queries with reference to the judgment. The judge also directed them to explain as to why they should not be punished for wilful disobedience of the judgment.
“The Registry is directed to number the suo motu contempt petition immediately and serve notice to the learned Advocate General today, i.e., May 17, 2019 through special messenger,” the judge noted and ordered that the matter be listed for hearing at 11.30 a.m. on May 20.
The judgment delivered in October last year was a detailed direction to authorities on the ways and means to curb the menace of illegal groundwater extraction. A report by News 18 Tamil Nadu claimed that large-scale illegal extraction of groundwater was on by a few individuals around Chennai and that this water was being sold to the general public for a large sum of money.
