HC restrains RO plants from extracting groundwater for commercial purposes

Madras High Court orders interim stay on RO plants extracting groundwater in Vedasandur, Dindigul district for commercial use.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered an interim stay restraining private reverse osmosis (RO) plants from extracting groundwater for commercial purposes in Vedasandur in Dindigul district.

A Division Bench of Justices J. Nisha Banu and S. Srimathy ordered notice to the authorities and the private reverse osmosis plants. The court also sought a counter affidavit from the authorities to the public interest litigation petition filed by N. Ramachandran of Vedasandur.

The petitioner said Vedasandur was experiencing drought during the summer season. The main source of drinking water was the underground water springs, which were naturally occurring. However, many RO plants were illegally extracting and exploiting groundwater for commercial purposes, he complained.

The RO water plants were extracting underground water without obtaining the ‘no objection’ certificate or licence from the authorities concerned. Despite making several representations to the authorities, no action had been taken in this regard, he said.

The illegal extraction of underground water during summer would lead to significant environmental issues and a scarcity of drinking and groundwater, ultimately impacting human life, the petitioner said.

He said he had urged the authorities concerned to initiate criminal and civil proceedings against the violators and also collect fine amounts and compensation, but in vain.

The petitioner sought a direction to the authorities to take appropriate action against those illegally extracting groundwater. The court has posted the matter for hearing after eight weeks.