(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) This writ petition, by way of public interest, has been filed by a practicing advocate and a resident of Mayiladuthurai Town, Nagapattinam District in the State of Tamil Nadu.
2. According to the petitioner, Mayiladuthurai Town in Nagapattinam District is situated in the Cauvery Delta. Thanjavur District adjacent to Nagapattinam District also forms part of Cauvery Delta Basin and these two districts were irrigated by the River Cauvery.
3. According to the petitioner, a branch of Cauvery River, which is known as River Old Cauvery runs through the town of Mayiladuthurai and is called Palang Cauvery. About 89 tanks and lakes in the town get water from the Palang Cauvery. Apart from these tanks, there are several other tanks belonging to various temples which also get water from the Palang Cauvery.
4. According to the petitioner, garbage and solid wastes, including non bio-degradable wastes, are being dumped into the Palang Cauvery and other water bodies causing severe contamination, obstruction of flow of water, depletion of water bodies as also environmental degradation.
5. After hearing the parties, the writ petition is disposed of by directing the respondent authorities to remove garbage and waste dumped into water bodies, tanks and rivers, including the Old Cauvery at Mayiladuthurai Town in Nagapattinam District, at the earliest and in any case within six weeks from the date of communication of this order. Encroachments, if any, in water bodies shall also be removed.
The writ petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs.