Madurai

In order to crack down on encroachers of waterbodies, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday issued a set of directions to the State to follow.

A Division Bench of Justices K. K. Sasidharan and P. D. Audikesavalu asked the State to initiate proceedings for removal of encroachments from waterbodies. All the Collectors shall prepare a list of lands identified as waterbodies in their revenue records. The Chief Secretary shall take cognisance of the the reports from each district and then file a consolidated report, the court said.

The Inspector General of Registration shall not register such lands and no electricity connection shall be provided by the Tangedco, henceforth. Apart from this, no water connection, building approvals shall be granted. The court also directed that no person henceforth shall be included in the voter’s list if they found to have encroached upon waterbodies.

The court passed the direction on a public interest litigation petition filed by K. K. Ramesh of Madurai who sought a direction for the district authorities to act against encroachers. The case was adjourned by two weeks.