K.K.RAMESH Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Tamil Nadu has been naturally endowed with water resources at almost every village. Our ancestors had the foresight to ensure preservation of water, which is an essential commodity not only for daily living of man, but also for the sustenance of all living creatures, including animals, birds and plants. The rapid pace of urbanization coupled with geometric progression in population growth has the deleterious effect of acute shortage of space and sky rocketing of prices in land value. The greed of man to exploit the situation has lead to rampant land grabbing of vacant lands belonging to the State and more particularly, the water bodies by encroachment of lakes, ponds, tanks, rivers and water channels, etc., In the absence of the taking effective measures for preservation of water for future, it is really the general public who have to suffer either by the havoc created by the inundating floods during rains when there is no absorption of ground water, or due to acute water scarcity during the drought periods.

(2.) These Writ Petitions, which have been entertained as 'Public Interest Litigation' by this Court, pertain to expeditious action for identification of water bodies in the State of Tamil Nadu and eviction of encroachments and other connected aspects to deter future encroachments.

(3.) In the Writ Petition in W.P. No. 768 of 2019, the Petitioner has sought for a direction to the State of Tamil Nadu and the Secretary, Water Resources Organisation, Public Works Department for demarcation and protection of lakes and ponds in Tamil Nadu coming under the control and maintenance of the Water Resources Organisation functioning in the Public Works Department of the State Government.