HC seeks all files on integrated SWD from city Corporation

The Madras High Court Wednesday directed the city corporation to produce all files on the issuance of a government order granting Rs 1,101.43 crore under World Bank funding to construct an integrated stormwater drain here.

A division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad issued the directive on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the court direction to the civic body to lay the integrated rainwater drain without laying concrete cement over the earth.

Petitioner N Shanmugam said avoiding concrete would allow the rainwater in the drains to percolate into the soil.

The bench, after going through the report of the superintending engineer of the corporation, also directed the civic body to produce the entire records on the estimate and construction of 529 silt catch pits with rainwater harvesting systems, along with photographs.

The official's report said that at every 30-metre interval, silt catch pit with rainwater harvesting was to be created in the inlet points of the stormwater drain, then water would be recharged and percolation would take place.

If that was the case, the bench said, then there was no need for construction of interceptor and diversion (I&D) works, and construction of modular sewage treatment plant along the banks of Cooum and Adayar rivers under the eco restoration of Cooum and Adayar river project under the Chennai River Restoration Trust(CRRT).

The bench reminded its suggestion in the earlier hearing that instead of letting out the rainwater into Cooum and Adayar rivers and thereafter treat it in sewage treatment plants, water can be stored at some places and desilting plants can be established.

The judges then sought details of the estimation and the cost of construction of 80 wells in government properties which fed from the drains and the details of the RWH well created at the inlet points of stormwater drain.

The bench directed to submit the details of the construction of RWH in the parks in the city with the estimate and expenditure and posted the matter to Thursday for further hearing.