HC directs local bodies to come up with action plan to rejuvenate Vaigai

Madurai High Court orders local bodies to create action plan for Vaigai river rejuvenation, addressing pollution concerns.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed the local bodies in Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts to come up with an action plan with a timeline for the rejuvenation of the Vaigai river.

A Division Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalendhi was hearing a batch of public interest litigation petitions, including a suo motu petition, initiated expressing concern over the pollution of the Vaigai river.

Earlier, the court observed that considering the gravity of the issue and directions passed by the court in the past, the State government should come up with a report not only identifying the causes of pollution but also an action plan to deal with the problem.

The court had initiated suo motu proceedings, taking cognisance of news reports, on the pollution of the Vaigai and ordered notice to the District Collectors of Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga. The court had ordered notice to Madurai Corporation Commissioner, Regional Director of Municipal Administration, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and Madurai Nature Cultural Foundation.

The news reports were based on the study carried out by the Foundation. The Registrar (Judicial) of the Madurai Bench had said the court had taken cognisance of the news reports on contamination of and waste discharge into Vaigai river in Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts.

According to the study, water samples were collected from different locations along the river. The test results were shocking and alarming, the study said.

The study said the major contributor to the water pollution was unchecked domestic, industrial and medical waste.