Ensure illegal groundwater extraction for commercial purposes is stopped forthwith, says HC

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the State and Virudhunagar district administration to ensure that illegal groundwater extraction for commercial purposes is stopped forthwith in the district.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation petition filed in 2019 by Videyal Veeraperumal of Virudhunagar district who had sought a direction to the authorities to prevent illegal extraction of underground water for commercial purposes in Virudhunagar district and to initiate action against those involved in commercial exploitation of groundwater in the region.

Naming over 20 private water packing units operating in the district, the petitioner said they were drawing water without the no-objection certificate/licence and in some cases beyond the permissible limit. He complained that this practice had been there for long in Virudhunagar district. Though several complaints had been made to the authorities, no action was taken, he said.

With the district facing drought and scarcity of drinking water, exploitation of groundwater must be stopped, he said and sought a direction to the authorities to take appropriate action against those who were involved in the commercial exploitation of natural resources.

A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and A.D. Maria Clete directed the authorities to ensure that illegal groundwater extraction for commercial purposes is stopped forthwith. In the event of receiving any information regarding illegal groundwater extraction for commercial purposes, action should be taken against the violators under the relevant laws for violating government guidelines, the court said.

In the present case, a large-scale allegation of groundwater extraction has been raised. The authorities are directed to conduct an inspection wherever groundwater extractions are made for commercial purpose, verify the licence granted and initiate appropriate actions, including criminal prosecution against the offenders, if any excess extraction of groundwater or otherwise is identified, the court directed. With the directions, the petition was disposed of.