High Court seeks report on steps to protect Amaravathi river

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Water Resources Department and the Department of Geology and Mining to file reports to the suo motu proceedings initiated to take necessary steps to protect Amaravathi river in Karur district.

A Division Bench of Justices G. R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalendhi sought the reports from the authorities and posted the matter for hearing to January 29.

The Register (Judicial) of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court sought a direction to the State government to remove the encroachment made on the river bed/bunds, to initiate action for prevention of illegal mining or quarrying of minor minerals, take penal action against illegal mining and transportation of sand and other minerals and take appropriate action against district level officers for failure to prevent illegal mining and destruction of river bunds.

Karur Collector in a status report submitted that stringent actions were being continuously taken by the District Administration to curb illegal activities. Surprise checks were routinely made by the enforcement agencies: Revenue, Police and Geology and Mining departments. The number of cases regarding unauthorised transportation of minerals had reduced when compared to the previous years. The district-level task force meeting was regularly conducted every month with the law and order meeting of Karur district, it was submitted.

All officials were instructed to follow the directions and instructions of the High Court. Criminal cases were being registered against those involved in illegal activities and vehicles used were being seized, it was submitted.

According to the status report, in 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 up to December 2025, a total of 191 vehicles and 31 bullock carts had been seized for illegal transportation of river sand and other minerals. A total of 148 criminal cases had been registered. A total of ₹8 crore was collected from offenders and ₹73.49 lakh was collected for illegal transportation of minerals as per the court orders.