Regretting that there has been no improvement in the quality of water in Vaigai river since 2011 when a PIL was filed to clean it, the Madras High Court today directed officials to depute a specialised team to assist it and monitor cleaning up of the river from time to time.
Justices R Sudhakar and S Vaidhyanathan said the situation (condition of the river with effluents of all types flowing) is grim and called for serious action without delay.
The bench said the primary cause for deterioration of the river was pollution in all forms and also gave a direction to implead the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
They said the PIL should be listed from time to time so that the court could monitor the action taken to keep the river clean.
Petitioner Muthukumar submitted the river was not only a 'holy' river, but a source of drinking water. Officials had allowed hotels, commercial establishments and industries to discharge effluents into the river, leading to a serious situation he said and sought action to be taken against them.
