Vandiyur tank should become absolutely pollution-free in 18 months: HC

Madras High Court orders Vandiyur tank in Madurai to be pollution-free in 18 months, with strict regulations on development.

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Thursday directed that within 18 months Vandiyur tank in Madurai should become absolutely pollution-free. The court directed authorities to ensure that not a drop of untreated water flows into Vandiyur tank. The authorities must undertake an aggressive campaigning to raise civic consciousness of the people of Madurai, the court directed.

Modifying its earlier restraint order passed against the authorities, a Division Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalendhi directed that the development and beautification works at Vandiyur tank can be implemented subject to the restrictions set out in Rule 4 of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

The court also directed that motorised boats should not be permitted in Vandiyur tank. The court passed the order while disposing of the public interest litigation petitions filed by advocates M. Pozhilan and R. Manibharathi of Madurai.

Pozhilan said that Vandiyur lake was an eco-sensitive area and the construction of food stalls on the park premises would result in contamination of the waterbody. Manibharathi had sought a direction to the authorities to remove the constructions made on the bunds of Vandiyur tank under the guise of beautification and restore it to its original position.

In a counter affidavit, Madurai Corporation said that the implementation of the project would provide a recreational space for the people of Madurai and the project had been conceived in public interest. Neither the storage capacity nor the water holding level would be reduced. It was also stated that the works commenced last year and 80% of the works had been completed.

Vandiyur tank was a wetland within the meaning of Rule 2(1)(g) of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. Therefore, any construction of permanent nature that may be put up by the authorities cannot be in breach of the Rules. It is obvious that commercial construction stands forbidden within the prohibited distance, the court observed.

Having clarified that the project can go on subject to the statutory restriction contained in Rule 4 of Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, the court observed that Vandiyur tank was an important waterbody in Madurai. It was unfortunate that the authorities had turned a blind eye to the pollution of the Vandiyur tank.