National Green Tribunal
Meenava Thanthai K.R. Selvaraj Kumar ... vs State Of Tamilnadu on 17 February, 2022
Bench: K. Ramakrishnan, Satyagopal Korlapati
Item No.40:-
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI
Original Application No.203 of 2021 (SZ) &
I.A. No.140 of 2021 (SZ) & I.A. No.34 of 2022 (SZ)
(Through Video Conference)
IN THE MATTER OF:
Meenava Thanthai K.R. Selvaraj Kumar,
Meenava Nala Sangam, Chennai.
...Applicant(s)
Versus
State of Tamil Nadu,
Through the Chief Secretary,
Chennai and Ors.
...Respondent(s)
Date of hearing: 17.02.2022.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. RAMAKRISHNAN, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE Dr. SATYAGOPAL KORLAPATI, EXPERT MEMBER
For Applicant(s): Mr. G. Stanley Hebzon Singh.
For Respondent(s): Dr. D. Shanmuganathan for R1 to R4.
ORDER
1. The above case has been posted to today for filing objections (if any) to the report, consideration of further report to be filed by the Water Page 1 of 4 Resources Department as directed by this Tribunal and also for hearing.
2. Today, we have received the report submitted by the Superintending Engineer, WRD, Palar Basin Circle, Chennai - 5 dated 16.02.2022, e-filed on the same date which reads as follows:-
"Report filed by the Superintending Engineer, WRD, Palar Basin Circle, Chennai - 5 I, A. Muthaiya, S/o. Ashokan, aged about 57 years residing at C Block, 207, Casagrand Aristo Apartments, Noble Street, Nanaganallur, Chennai - 6, in my capacity as Superintending Engineer, WRD, Palar Basin Circle, Chennai in charge of the impugned mouth of the River Cooum, filing this report pursuant to the orders dated 15.09.2021 made by this Hon'ble Tribunal in the O.A. herein and also the Public Works Department has been appointed as the nodal agency for providing necessary logistics for this purpose.
2. In compliance of the order dated 31.01.2021 of this Hon'ble Tribunal to the queries raised by this Hon'ble Tribunal is submitted as follows:
(i) The sand removed from the river mouth would be used for filling up the low lying portions of the proposed memorial for Muthamizh Arignar Dr. Kalaignar at Arignar Anna Memorial Campus at Kamarajar Salai, Chepauk for which necessary Administrative Saction has been accorded in G.O. Ms. 144, Tamil Development and Information (Memorials) Department dated 08.11.2021 for which a request has been made by the Public Works Department, Buildings to the Chief Engineer, WRD, Chennai Region, Chennai - 5.
(ii) In order to prevent misuse of sand or stolen by the miscreants, the Joint Commissioner of Police, East Zone along with the Inspector of Police, Anna Square jurisdiction and Joint Committee members inspected the site near Napier Bridge, Cooum River and after the said inspection, the Inspector of Police submitted his report by his letter dated 27.11.2021 to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Triplicane Range that he is taking steps to prevent any illegal sand quarry and regular beat patrol is sent out to Page 2 of 4 monitor the site.
3. The Police Department is continuously monitoring the illegal or unauthorized sand quarry or unauthorized vehicles near Cooum river mouth as follows:-
a. By sending Beat Patrol Police regularly to watch, monitor near Napier Bridge at Cooum River mouth.
b. The Police Constables throughout the day and night are visiting the site physically to prevent any attempt of illegal sand quarry.
c. The police personnel are constantly inspecting the Cooum River mouth with Beach Buggy Vehicles in order to prevent any illegal activities in and around the Cooum River mouth.
d. The police personnel are instructed to Water Resources Department to inform the vehicles allowed into Cooum River Mouth for removing the accumulated sand bar.
It is, therefore, prayed that this Hon'ble Tribunal may be pleased to take on record the submissions made above and pass appropriate further order as deemed fit in the facts and circumstances of the case and thus render justice."
3. The applicant has filed an interlocutory application [I.A. No.34 of 2022 (SZ)] seeking certain directions to be issued by this Tribunal, which can be considered along with the original application.
4. Since we are engaged in other hearing matters viz., O.A. No.147/2021, O.A. No.148/2021 and O.A. No.212/2021, there is no time.
5. The applicant is directed to file their objections (if any) to the Joint Committee report before the next hearing date by e-filing in the form of Searchable PDF/OCR Supportable PDF and not in the form of Image PDF along with necessary hardcopies to be produced as per Rules and parties are directed to get ready with the matter on the next hearing Page 3 of 4 date.
6. For filing objections (if any) to the report, consideration of report filed by the Superintending Engineer, WRD, Palar Basin and also for hearing, post on 21.02.2022.
Sd/-
Justice K. Ramakrishnan, JM Sd/-
Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati, EM O.A. No.203/2021 (SZ) I.A. No.140/2021 (SZ) I.A. No.34/2022 (SZ) 17th February 2022. Mn.
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