Madurai
The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has issued an interim injunction on a new drinking water borewell project along the Kollidam river bed in Anbil village, Trichy district. The bench, comprised of Justices GR Swaminathan and Pugalendhi, made this decision in response to two Public Interest Litigations (PIL) filed against the project. Gajendran, one of the litigants, highlighted in his petition the significance of the Kollidam river, which supplies water for agriculture to Anbil and 20 villages in Trichy district, serving as a crucial source of drinking water for the southern and northern districts.
Gajendran expressed concern about a water shortage caused by illegal mining in the Kollidam river over the past 25 years. Despite the Anbil villagers’ persistent demand for a step dam at Kollidam for seven years, the Tamil Nadu government has not considered it and is instead pursuing the installation of a new borewell. Another PIL, filed by R Arumugham of Anbil village, asserted that the project was initially planned for Sevanthipuram village but was relocated to Keela Anbil village due to objections from Sevanthipuram residents. The counsel representing Arumugham argued against the project, stating that it is against the interests of local agriculturists who are already grappling with water scarcity. Gajendran, having previously submitted a representation to halt the borewell project without any action taken, sought legal intervention from the Madras High Court. The court’s interim injunction restrains authorities from proceeding with the borewell project at the Kollidam riverbed in Anbil village.
