The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Court summons to Collector

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 21, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Court summons to Collector

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI : The Madras High Court has directed the Kancheepuram Collector to be present in court on January 5, 2007, in connection with a public interest litigation petition alleging grant of illegal sand quarrying permission at six points on the Paalar river basin.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice K. Chandru, besides summoning the Collector, asked him to visit the six places and prepare a report. He shall furnish the report in court on January 5, 2007.

The direction was passed on a petition filed by a ward councillor, S. Sumathi, who alleged that the Collector had granted quarrying permission at Veppencherri, Parameshwari Mangalam, Natham, Poingainallur, Nallathur and Ayappakkam in spite of the fact that no more sand was available at these sites.

Alleging manipulation of records by authorities, she said that mechanical devices were put to use for illegal quarrying in these places. Alleging that huge ditches had formed along the river basin, she said a boy fell into a ditch and died on November 25, 2006.

The State authority had no right to manipulate the records and award permission for illegal quarrying, she said, adding that villages in the region would be denied their irrigation and drinking water if the quarrying continued any further. The petitioner prayed for an interim injunction restraining the authorities from continuing the quarrying activity at the six sites, which were not covered by an order dated November 8, passed by the Collector.

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