State must ensure dams are maintained properly: Madras HC
Madurai:
Madras high court
has observed that the state has to take appropriate steps to ensure that the dams are maintained properly and that mud and sludge are removed periodically to maintain the storage of water, as it is a duty mandated under the Constitution.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by K K Ramesh of Madurai district in 2017. The petitioner sought a direction to the authorities to remove the accumulated mud and sludge from 11 dams, including Aliyar, Amaravathi, Bhavanisagar, Mettur, and Papanasam dams, and to take steps to increase the storage level of the dams.
A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice A D Maria Clete observed that it is needless to state that dams are to be protected and maintained for the benefit of the public at large. The judges directed the state to initiate appropriate actions under the statutes and rules or the scheme available for the maintenance of dams across the state. The petition was disposed of.
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