Plea in HC for Ganga-model conservation of 3 Tamil Nadu rivers

MADURAI: The Madras high court on Thursday sought a response from the central and state governments on a plea seeking to launch a plan similar to the ‘National Mission for Clean Ganga’ for conservation of Vaigai, Thamiraparani and Cauvery rivers in the state.
A division bench of justice D Krishnakumar and justice R Vijayakumar was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an advocate K Pushpavanam.
He stated that rivers in Tamil Nadu are deteriorating day by day in ecological aspects due to pollution, discharge of sewage and chemical effluents, growth of invasive species like seemai karuvelam, encroachments, plundering of river sands.
Though the high court had issued several directions for conservation of Vaigai, Thamiraparani and Cauvery, due to paucity of funds, several orders are not implemented in an effective manner. In such circumstances, it would be very apt to devise a plan similar to the one launched for Ganga river for the three rivers.TNN