National Green Tribunal Directs Eviction Of Encroachers From Tamil Nadu’s Lakes

The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the District Collector of Tiruvallur, as well as the Commissioner of Avadi City Municipal Corporation, to work in coordination to evict encroachers of Ambattur, Puzhal, and Vilinjiyambakkam Lakes and restore them "in the manner known to law."

Considering that construction work of Common Sewerage Treatment Plant at Vilinjiyambakkam Lake has been commenced, the bench of Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Dr.Satyagopal Korlapati said,“this is the right time for the District Collector to rise to the occasion to evict the encroachments and coordinate with the Avadi City Municipal Corporation in plugging the sewage being let into these lakes which can be easily restored and would supply water for the Avadi and nearby areas.”

The Tribunal was hearing the application on suo moto cognizance based on a news item in The Hindu newspaper edition titled "Vilinjiyambakkam Lake shrunk due to encroachment" in December 2020.

The NGT noted that, as the territory within the Avadi Municipal Corporation is already water starved, it becomes necessary to evict all the encroachers and restore these tanks.

It further noted that encroachers of the lakes are already identified and Form - I & II are being prepared under the Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment Rules, 2007 and the process would be completed within 4 weeks time.

The Tribunal observed that the said lakes are being degraded due to sewage mixing, which is a result of the absence of provisions for an Underground Sewerage System.

In response to this, the Commissioner of Avadi City Municipal Corporation reported that tenders have already been issued for the construction of a Common Sewerage Treatment Plant at three locations, namely Ambattur Lake, Puzhal Lake, and Vilinjiyambakkam Lake.

While passing the direction for eviction, the Tribunal also said, “Let the District Collector - Tiruvallur and the Commissioner - Avadi City Municipal Corporation file their independent compliance report.”

The matter is posted for July 07 for further consideration.

Case Title: Tribunal on its own motion SUO MOTU based on the News Item in The Hindu Newspaper Edition dt: 21.12.2020, “Vilinjiyambakkam Lake shrunk due to encroachment ” v.the Principal Secretary to Govt. Public Works Department, Chennai and Ors.

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