HC directs DRO to apprise court of steps taken by panel to protect Vaigai river

Madurai High Court directs committee to preserve Vaigai River, DRO to update on progress, hearing set for February 6.

Taking into account that a Madurai District Level Preservation, Rehabilitation of Vaigai River Committee has been constituted, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Madurai District Revenue Officer to apprise the court about steps taken by the committee, pursuant to the court order.

A Division Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalendhi took note of the affidavit filed by Madurai Collector and observed that the court wanted to know the proceedings by which the committee had been constituted. The court directed the DRO to be present in the court on February 6.

The court was hearing the contempt petition filed by M. Naga Rajan of Madurai, the managing trustee of Vaigai Nathi Makkal Iyakkam, who complained that the earlier court order had not been complied with. The petitioner said that there was a specific direction by the court to constitute a committee in five districts - Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram - in the name of ‘Preservation, Rehabilitation of Vaigai River Committee’ wherein the respective Collectors were the Chairperson and Commissioners of respective local bodies as members.

The role of the committee was to monitor Vaigai river from time to time through physical inspection and take suitable action to prevent discharge of sewage into the river so that the water can be used for drinking and irrigation. However, no steps have been taken to conduct physical inspection or prevent the discharge of sewage into the river.

The authorities have failed to comply with the order passed by the court which had led to discharge of sewage at several places and resulted in the river getting polluted, he said. The court will on February 6 hear all Vaigai river related matters, including the suo motu proceedings initiated to prevent the discharge of sewage into the river to protect it and give direction to the authorities to take appropriate action against those who polluted the river.

The suo motu proceedings were initiated after the court took cognisance of news reports on pollution of Vaigai river which were based on a study carried out by Madurai Nature Cultural Foundation.