Plea to prevent discharge of sewage into Kudamurutti river

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the State government to file a report in a public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to the authorities to prevent the discharge of sewage and other waste into Kudamurutti river in Tiruchi.

A Division Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalendhi was hearing the petition filed by N. Shanmugam of Karur district.

The petitioner complained that sewage and other waste was being discharged into Kudamurutti river. Unplugged drainage, sullage and sewage were being discharged from multiple residential localities situated on the banks of the river. Having been neglected by the authorities, Kudamurrutti canal has been a drainage carrier of Tiruchi city for years.

It is the duty of Tiruchi Corporation to take steps to prevent the discharge of sewage into the river as it posed a serious threat to the people, he said.

He sought a direction to initiate appropriate action against Tiruchi Corporation for the pollution of Kudamurutti river and said that Environmental Compensation under Polluter Pays Principle should be collected and utilised for the restoration of the river.

He sought a direction to the authorities to prevent the flow of sewage, untreated liquid wastes and drainage into the river, remove encroachments made on the banks of the river, take appropriate action to treat sewage water before being discharged into the river and ensure that the river was free from pollution.