Madurai Bench of Madras HC appoints water conservationist Rajendra Singh to study Thamirabarani river pollution

Dissatisfied with the progress made by the Tamil Nadu government with regard to checking the pollution of Thamirabarani river, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has appointed eminent water conservationist and Magsaysay awardee Rajendra Singh as Commissioner to undertake a detailed study of the river, and suggest appropriate remedial measures.

A Division Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalendhi said, “We have passed several orders with regard to checking the pollution in Thamirabarani river. We have already involved the District Administration, the Water Resources Department, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, as well as the State government. Even though we have been engaged in the exercise for more than a year, we are not satisfied with the progress. Effective solutions have not been placed before us.”

“In these circumstances, we have thought it fit to appoint Mr. Rajendra Singh as Commissioner to undertake a detailed study of the state of Thamirabarani and suggest appropriate remedial measures,” the Bench said.

“Mr. Rajendra Singh, an eminent water conservationist and environmentalist, has restored streams and rivers in Rajasthan that had gone dry. We are confident that with his hands-on experience in the field, he will be able to come out with a feasible and workable proposal. We are equally confident that his suggestions will be taken seriously by all stakeholders and implemented in full so that the river regains its pristine purity,” the court said.

Mr. Rajendra Singh is permitted to take the assistance of Mr. Balaji Rangaramanujam, who has done commendable field work in Dindigul, the court said. He may undertake field visits on dates that are convenient to him. All stakeholders, including the district administration as well as officials of the TNPCB and WRD, are directed to extend their assistance to the Commissioner, the court said.

The court was hearing a contempt petition filed by S. Kamaraj alias Muthalakurichi Kamaraj of Thoothukudi district.