HC orders status-quo on construction of DAE building in TN

The Madras High Court has ordered status quo on proposed construction of a multi-storeyed building by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) allegedly encroaching on a water body in a village in neighbouring Kancheepuram district.
Passing the interim orders on a PIL, a vacation bench, comprising Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice M V Muralidharan, on May 11 issued notice to district and local authorities besides the Director of Town And Country Planning (DTCP) and posted the matter for further hearing to the second week of July.
"It is evident from the documents filed by the petitioner that the property located in Survey No: 29/1 (in Neikkuppi Village) is a Government Poromboke land classified as "Kuttai" (water body) and the sixth respondent (DAE) is attempting to put up construction in the said water body. Hence, there shall be an order of status-quo prevailing as on today (May 11) until further orders," it said.

Petitioner R Krishnasamy of Neikuppi village submitted that the department was taking steps to construct a multi-storeyed building and proposed to encroach upon a portion of the 3.20 acre water body, which is a primary source of water collection benefiting the village and neighbourhood.
He alleged the DAE was making preparation for construction from May 3 last and employing heavy machineryto dig trenches to do plinth work right inside the water body.
If the same waspermitted, the villagers would be put to irreparable loss, injury and hardship, he said praying to the court to direct authorities to take appropriate action to protect the public water body called "Kuttai" from being encroached upon in any way by the Estate Officer General Services of Organization, DAE, Anupuram Township, Kalpakkam Kancheepuram district, or anybody else.

The DAE has its Indira Gandhi Centre of Atomic Research in Kalpakkam in Kancheepuram district.