(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) This writ petition is directed against the construction of a culvert over the Sellikonnan Canal, Vedaranyam Taluk, Nagapattinam District, which, it is alleged, will interfere with free flow of water in the canal.
2. It is the case of the petitioner that the Sellikonnan Canal, running through their village, is the only source for drainage of water in their village, which is a low lying, flood prone area. Any obstruction to the flow of water would cause watter logging.
3. The photographs produced by the respondents show that a culvert is being constructed above the canal and there would be free passage of water underneath. The construction is under the Prime Minister's Village Road Development Scheme for improvement of roads.
4. The improvement of roads and construction of culverts is in public interest and this is not in dispute. In view of the submission that there would be flow of water underneath the culvert, our intervention is not warranted. We cannot proceed on the basis of speculation that water might accumulate by reason of construction. It is, however, directed that once the construction is complete, the respondent authorities will clear the area of all accumulated construction materials and ensure that there is no accumulation of water by reason of construction at the spot in question.
The writ petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs. Consequently, W.M.P.No.26217 of 2017 is closed.