Deccan Chronicle 06.11.2009
Directive to finish drainage work
Chennai
Nov. 5: The Madras high court has directed the state government to complete the construction of the drainage channel in Sholinganallur-IT Park area, to provide drainage of rain water.
A division bench comprising Justice Prabha Sridevan and Justice M. Sathianarayanan said “in view of the monsoon and the obvious danger of flooding, the state government is directed to complete the construction of the drainage channel along with the southern side leading west of the IT Parks to provide drainage of rain water. If the culverts have been blocked and have not been converted into bridge, then they shall be cleared to allow the natural flow.”
The bench posted to Nov. 25, further hearing of the PIL filed by T. Retnapandian, president of Kancheepuram district Exnora, seeking to restrain the authorities from carrying any construction or development work in the area before forming a suitable floodwater drainage channel.
According to Retnapandian, 153.20 hectares of government poramboke land situated in Sholinganallur village had been handed over to the Elcot limited for being allotted to private companies for development of information and technology business. From time immemorial during rainy season the excess rain and floodwaters from areas up to Tambaram drained over these lands and reached the sea via Sholinganallur. Hence these lands were of great strategic and environmental importance.
In response to the representation from the villagers, the PWD officials replied that Elcot has been specifically directed to develop a drainage channel inside its premises before developing and using the lands.
w Fiat to appoint two APROs
The Madras high court has directed the state government to consider the appointment of two persons as assistant public relation officers (APRO) in the available vacancies and if no vacancy was available, in vacancies in the immediate future.
Justice K. Suguna gave the directive while allowing the petitions from A.K. Perumal and K. Thangaraju, who sought to set aside the appointment of V.R. Navaneethakrishnakumar and five others in 1999 and consequently appoint them as APROs.
Holding that the appointment of Navaneethakrishnakumar, I Namasivayam, K. Annadurai, R. Suresh, T. Senthilkumar and V. Prabhukumar has been made in total violation of the rules, the judge said, “Taking note of the fact that they have completed nearly 10 years of service, I do not like to disturb their appointment.”
