HC puts on hold constructions in water bodies

Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government not to allow any construction on water bodies anywhere in the entire state till January 18.
The directive was passed by a bench comprising Justice Satish K Agnihotri and Justice P Devadass on a petition by an Erode based association working against pollution and encroachment of a water channel.
"As an interim measure, we order that there shall not be any permission to make any construction in any manner, on the water bodies anywhere in the entire state of Tamil Nadu till January 18, 2016," the bench said in its order yesterday.

The petitioner association represented by its president K Shanmugasundaram submitted that the Perumpalla odai (stream) was not only source of irrigation for agricultural lands dependent upon it but also a carrier in case of flood caused due to sudden downpour.
Obstructions has blocked the flow of water in it and also prevents storage of water in the stream. It further said that there was possibility of villages also getting flooded in case of heavy rain due to obstruction caused by encroachment.
When the matter came up earlier on November 16, the bench had directed the authorities to have a spot inspection and submit a report.

During the hearing yesterday, the government advocate informed the bench that the inspection was conducted.
Counsel for petitioner L Chandrakumar then submitted that the government proposes to lay a road on the waterbody which prompted the bench to pass the interim order restraining any type of construction in any waterbody.