CHENNAI: Madras High Court has directed the Kanchipuram District Collector to close down within 15 days all the deep borewells erected to tap water for commercial purposes. Justice TS Sivagnanam gave the direction while allowing a writ petition from the Sonalur panchayat in Tiruporur panchayat union, by its president S Sankar, last week.
The tapping of groundwater by individuals/ establishments was for commercial purpose and not for personal consumption. In such circumstances, the indiscriminate tapping by installing deep borewells and selling them in Chennai could not be allowed, the Judge said.
Petitioner’s senior counsel K Doraisamy contended that there was indiscriminate tapping of water for commercial purposes by sinking borewells by nearly half-a-dozen persons without obtaining any approval. The panchayat had raised objections, passed resolutions and submitted pleas to the authorities, but to no avail. The villagers even staged a road roko. A complaint had also been lodged with the Kelambakkam police, he added.
In the counter, the BDO and the Tahsildar, Tiruporur, accepted Doraisamy’s submissions.
The Judge said since drawing water by the persons named in the writ petition and others was unauthorised, the authorities should prevent them from continuing the activity. Disposing of the petition, he directed the Collector and others to immediately close the deep borewells installed by those concerned for commercial purpose without obtaining any permission from the competent authority.