HC restrains drawing of water from unsafe, critical areas in Erode

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Wednesday restrained the water purifying units in Erode from drawing groundwater from any of the areas marked unsafe and critical nature, and transporting such water to those who have permits to run water purifying units.

A division bench comprising Justice Vineet Kothari passed the direction on a plea moved by private water caterers in the district that instead of closing down only the borewell for drawing of groundwater from the critical or unsafe zone in Erode, the authorities have disconnected the entire power supply, thus preventing the production of purification and supply of water, which has crippled the entire business.

The government had submitted that the decision to disconnect electricity and generator connection was taken by the District Monitoring Committee. This was done because if only the outlet point of borewell was sealed in critical and over exploited firkas, there was every likelihood of the firm bringing water from the nearly areas through transport and illegally continue their operation.

It was also submitted that 62 per cent of area in Erode falls in the ‘danger zone’ and 18 per cent falls in the ‘near-danger zone’.

Hearing both sides, the bench said: “Instead of closing down the entire unit of the applicants, only their borewells concerned may be completely sealed in such a manner that water withdrawal from such borewells is not permitted.

“It will also be ensured that the water drawn from any of such units in the critical areas is not allowed to be brought to the water purifying units in Erode to carry on their purification operations,” the bench added.

The bench was also informed that the report pertaining to action being taken against the illegally operating units in Chennai would be submitted to the court on November 19.