Status report on Kollidam check dam sought

The summer vacation division bench comprising Justice R Mahadevan and Justice M Govindaraj, before whom a PIL filed by an ex-panchayat president of Kadalangudi village, came up for hearing directed the PWD to file a status report within four weeks. 

The petitioner had submitted that owing to rampant exploitation of the Kollidam water resource through bore wells, the ground water level in the region had depleted. However, when this aspect was brought to the knowledge of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, an announcement was made on July 4, 2014, for the construction of a check dam near Kumaramangalam at a cost of Rs 400 crore. Following this, a resolution was adopted by the Panchayats of Kadalangudi and Thiruchitrambalam to construct the check dam and representations were made to the authorities. 

But till date, nothing concrete has emerged resulting in the court being moved for a direction to construct the check dam announced by the late chief minister, the plea said.