MADURAI
Claiming that the iconic Grand Anicut or Kallanai is facing gradual degradation, a petition filed before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday sought appropriate steps to curb illegal activities leading to the degradation.
M. Sivakumar from Tiruchi, the petitioner, claimed that private parties with vested interests were using the ancient rocks along the riverbed for road work being executed close to the dam.
The authorities concerned should take appropriate steps to stop the practice. Complaints against the illegal activities had been made time and again, but no action had been taken in this regard, he said, and sought a direction to the authorities to look into the issue as it concerned the safety of a historic structure.
A Division Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Sathish Kumar asked the Superintendent of Police, Tiruchi, and Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department, to look into the complaints and file a status report. The case was adjourned till September 25 for further hearing.