National Green Tribunal Southern Zone vs The Chief Secretary To Government Of ... on 24 May, 2024

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National Green Tribunal

National Green Tribunal Southern Zone vs The Chief Secretary To Government Of ... on 24 May, 2024

Bench: Satyagopal Korlapati

              BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
                   SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI

                           (Through Video Conference)

                    Original Application No.181 of 2024(SZ)


IN THE MATTER OF:


Tribunal on its own motion SUO MOTU
based on the News Item in 'The Times of
India', Chennai Edition dt: 20.05.2024,
"Work on Checkdam in Kerala stokes
TN farmers' fears".

                                      And

The Chief Secretary to Govt. of Tamil Nadu,
Chennai and Ors.
                                                              ...Respondent(s)


Date of hearing: 24.05.2024.


CORAM:

HON'BLE Smt. JUSTICE PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, JUDICIAL MEMBER

HON'BLE Dr. SATYAGOPAL KORLAPATI, EXPERT MEMBER



For Applicant(s):         Suo Motu.

For Respondent(s):        Dr. D. Shanmuganathan for R1, R4 & R5.
                          Mr. G. Vignesh represented
                          Mr. E.K. Kumaresan for R2, R3 & R6.




                                   Page 1 of 3
                          ORDER

1. On 20.05.2024, there was a news item published in 'The Times of India' under the caption "Work on Checkdam in Kerala stokes TN farmers' fears".

2. Pursuant to it, the learned standing counsel appearing for the State Kerala was directed to get necessary instruction and furnish a response today.

3. The allegation made in the news report is that in Vattavada in Idukki District, Kerala State, the check dam is being built across the Silandhi, a tributary of the Amaravathi River in Tamil Nadu. If the check dam is constructed on the water flow to the Amaravathi dam in Udumalpet, which is a key source of irrigation of more than 55,000 Acres in Tiruppur and Karur districts, could be seriously affected.

4. As it appears that the construction of the check dam, on an interstate river, would create an impact on the irrigation in districts of Tamil Nadu, the matter is taken up Suo Motu by this Tribunal.

5. As the check dam is being constructed which is evident from the picture shown by one of the Tamil newspapers viz., Dinamalar dated 21.05.2024, we direct the Government of Kerala in particular, the Water Resources Department (WRD) and the Forest Department to ensure that all the required approvals for such construction of check dam are in place, as it involves two of the States viz., Kerala and Tamil Nadu and if there are no proper approvals for the construction of check dam, Page 2 of 3 let the project proponent withhold the project till such time the appropriate approvals are granted.

6. Let notice be issued to the respondents through the Tribunal along with a copy of the newspaper report.

7. The learned counsels Dr. D. Shanmuganathan accepts notice on behalf of Respondents No.1, 4 & 5 and Mr. G. Vignesh representing Mr. E.K. Kumaresan accepts notice on behalf of Respondents No.2, 3 & 6.

8. Let the matter be listed on 23.07.2024. In the meanwhile, the respondents are directed to file their respective replies.

Sd/-

Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, JM Sd/-

Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati, EM O.A. No.181/2024(SZ) 24th May, 2024. AD.

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