CHENNAI: Expressing dismay over the ‘lethargy, inaction and deliberate’ intention of authorities to not comply with the court order for sealing all units tapping groundwater illegally for commercial purposes, the Madras high court on Thursday warned of summoning the chief secretary of Tamil Nadu if the non-compliance continues. “We take a very serious view of the matter and intend to initiate contempt action against the responsible officers of the state in this regard,” a division bench of Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice R Suresh Kumar said. The bench said it expected a meticulous and punctual compliance of its directions and made it clear that if there is a single instance of non-compliance on the part of authorities, the collector along with the authority concerned shall remain personally present before the court. The issue pertains to a PIL moved by M V Sivamuthu of Neat India organisation, seeking penal action against industries that exploit groundwater without appropriate licence under the Chennai Metropolitan Ground Water Regulation Act, 1987. The petitioner alleged that drinking water manufacturers having industries within Chennai metropolitan area were extracting groundwater without getting the no-objection certificate from PWD, as mandated by law. On January 11, the court ordered immediate closure of such units while observing that the state seems to have learnt no lessons from the severe water crisis that crippled the city in 2019 as illegal tapping of groundwater by private drinking water suppliers was still being permitted. When the plea came up for hearing on Thursday, the authorities submitted a report giving a summary of such units in district wise. The report claimed that there are 261 units across the state that are found to have tapping groundwater illegally of which 116 have applied for renewal. No objection certificates provided to 132 units stood cancelled and 13 units have been closed. “Surprisingly, we find from the report that out of 261 units, which were operating in the state in 32 districts, without a valid and continued licence for withdrawal of underground water, only 13 have been closed, the details of which are not placed on record,” the bench said. Making it clear that a compliance report has to be filed before next date of hearing, the court adjourned the hearing to March 3.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/groundwater-tapping-madras-hc-raps-officials/articleshow/74384696.cms
