The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the District Collector – Tiruvallur as well as the Commissioner – Avadi City Municipal Corporation to work in coordination to evict encroachers of Ambattur, Puzhal, and Vilinjiyambakkam Lakes.
The Bench of Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Dr.Satyagopal Korlapati was hearing the application on suo moto cognizance based on a news item in a newspaper edition highlighting encroachment in Vilinjiyambakkam Lake in December 2020.
The report of the Tahsildar- Avadi dated 12.05.2023 is filed. The said report gives the list of 9 Nos. of tanks situated within the Avadi City Municipal Corporation. The District Collector – Tiruvallur has deployed a special survey team to demarcate the boundaries of these lakes within the Avadi City Municipal Corporation limits.
“Admittedly, these tanks are encroached upon. As the territory within the Avadi Municipal Corporation is already water starved, it becomes necessary to evict all the encroachers and restore these tanks. “
The report further states that already the encroachments are identified and the Form – I & II are being prepared under the Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment Rules, 2007 and the process would be completed within 4 weeks time.
In the meanwhile, there was also a news item reported in the newspaper dated 03.05.2023 which stated that “Avadi Corporation sanctions road laying work inside Kovilpathagai Tank”. This is also one of the tanks within the Avadi City Municipal Corporation. Even the news item states that the said tank sprawls over 215.79 Hectares of ayacut with a free catchment area of 1.54 Sq. Km. and the tank’s full capacity is 2.28 Million Cubic Feet.
The said lakes are being degraded because of the sewage mixing which is due to the fact that there is no provision for the Under Ground Sewerage System (UGSS).
In this regard, the Commissioner – Avadi City Municipal Corporation also has filed his report dated 12.05.2023 wherein, it is stated that the tender has already been issued for the construction of Common Sewerage Treatment Plant at three places viz., Ambattur Lake, Puzhal Lake and Vilinjiyambakkam Lake of 40 KLD, 40 KLD and 20 KLD capacity respectively.
The construction work of the Common Sewerage Treatment Plant at Vilinjiyambakkam Lake also has been commenced as per the work order dated 27.01.2023 and 75% of the work is completed and by this report, they are seeking a month’s time to complete the work.
“This is the right time for the District Collector to rise to the occasion to evict the encroachments and coordinate with the Avadi City Municipal Corporation in plugging the sewage being let into these lakes which can be easily restored and would supply water for the Avadi and nearby areas”, the NGT said.
“Therefore, we direct the District Collector – Tiruvallur as well as the Commissioner – Avadi City Municipal Corporation to work in coordination to evict these encroachers and restore these lakes in the manner known to law. Let the District Collector – Tiruvallur and the Commissioner – Avadi City Municipal Corporation file their independent compliance report”, the order reads.
The matter is posted by the NGT on 07.07.2023 for further hearing.