Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding construction of a bridge across Erattaikaradu Lake Jarathal, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, 01/04/2016
Order of the National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone, Chennai) in the matter of Senthil Jarathal, Chennampatti Village, Anthiyur Taluk, Erode Distric Vs District Collector, Erode District & Others dated 01/04/2016. The original application is filed for a direction against respondents to remove the obstruction caused by construction of a bridge across the stream thereby affecting the free flow of water and causing floods and inundating the village by granting the order of mandatory injunction to remove the bridge constructed across the moat, the Erattaikaradu Lake Jarathal, Chennampatti Village, Anthiyur Taluk, Erode District.
Water Resources Department, Erode District submits before NGT that the bridge is in no way affecting the natural environment including forest, lakes and the wildlife. It only improves the basic facilities of the people living in that habitation and helps in to safeguard the forest, lakes, wildlife and to have compassion for living beings. Also NGT on perusal of the letter dated 18.11.2015 of the Forest Ranger, Chennampatti addressed to the District Forest Officer, Erode it is clear that the construction of the bridge is by public participation. The Forest Range Officer, in no uncertain terms stated in his letter that by virtue of construction of the bridge there is no possibility of wild animals coming out from the forest and the complaint is based on dispute between two groups of people in the area.
The original application stands dismissed.