In a stinging observation, the Madras High Court on
Friday said that the loss due to the recent floods at various places in
the State was because of the maladministration in preserving water
bodies, waterways and canals.
The First Bench made
the observation while dismissing a PIL petition filed by Shanmugam,
North Chennai secretary of CPI, for a direction to issue pattas to the
families who had encroached upon dried up or unused lakes and water
bodies at Kolathur in Chennai and its neighbourhood, for decades.
Responding
strongly to this plea, the court said authorities in power cannot
destroy the water bodies or water courses, which had formed naturally,
for the benefit of mankind forever. Besides, it is beyond the power of
the State to alienate or re-classify them for some other purposes.
“Lakes
and water bodies are gifts of the nature. There is no possibility of
getting further gifts of such nature,” the Bench said.
The
judges added that the loss was due to the practice of the authorities
allowing water bodies and water courses to be encroached upon. The
authorities have permitted construction of houses in the water bodies
resulting in inundation and submerging of houses.
Source : The Hindu, 28-Nov-2015
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