CHENNAI: The Tiruvannamalai District Collector was directed by the Madras HC to remove encroachments on the Kappalur lake within 15 days. The First Bench of Chief Justice S K Kaul and Justice M M Sundresh gave this direction while disposing of a PIL petition from G Gopinath of Kappalur village in Thiruvannamalai, who sought the Collector to remove the encroachments on the canal carrying water to the Kappalur lake and ensure the livelihood of thousands of local farmers, who solely depend on the lake for irrigation. The endeavour to remove the encroachments has resulted in only the encroached area being demarcated as per the orders of the Collector and thereafter, the authorities appear to have left the matter at that for the past three months, the Bench noted.