Groundwater misuse: HC appoints advocate commissioner

Taking note of the rising complaints about private players exploiting groundwater for commercial purposes, the Madras High Court has directed all district Collectors to register the details of tanker lorries permitted to be used in their districts for transportation of water.

The bench also appointed L Chandrakumar as Advocate Commissioner to inspect the places cited by the petitioner and submit a report as to whether groundwater was being extracted and supplied for commercial purposes. It also warned Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram Collectors of appropriate action if they failed to render necessary assistance to the court.

Directing the Collectors to furnish the details of those who have been granted license for extraction/transportation of water for commercial purposes, a division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad also sought the State to act forthwith by offering a notification in the press, directing tanker lorries to register themselves with the district administration.

“We deem it fit to observe that non-registration of the details of the lorry tankers could only facilitate such tankers being employed by transporters for even illegal purposes. Extraction of water from the borewells could be for domestic purposes. But there is always a possibility for selling it by engaging water tankers,” the bench held in its order.

When the State government itself has found that the groundwater level in many areas was critical, it was unfortunate that the Collectors of Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts have not taken steps to register the details of the lorry tankers in their jurisdiction, the bench said. This despite several directions by the Supreme Court and also the High Court, it added, noting that natural resources like water, sand and stones were being exploited in an organised manner.

Petitioner RK Ilayaraja had contended that five persons – Soundararajan, Nagarajan, Sundar, Elumalai and Yuvaraj – have indulged in illegal extraction of groundwater from their land in and around Nanganallur and Palavanthangal throughout the day. However, Palavanthangal police inspector submitted that an inspection was held and there was no illegal tapping of groundwater as alleged by the petitioner and the extracted water was being used only for household purpose.

The case was posted for further hearing to July 11.