The Madras High Court has directed the Greater Chennai Corporation and other agencies to file their responses within two weeks on a petition seeking clear guidelines for digging roads for stormwater drain and related works.
The public interest litigation was filed by Muralidharan, a resident of Kottur in Chennai, stating that stormwater drain construction has been underway in the area for about one-and-a-half months and has caused significant hardship to the public.
According to the petition, road excavation for the project has led to disruption of electricity supply and water and sewer connections to nearby homes. It also alleged that roads were not restored after the work, resulting in dust and unhygienic conditions, and that traffic movement has been affected.
The petitioner sought directions to frame coordination norms requiring the Chennai Corporation, the electricity board, the water supply and sewerage board, and the police to work together whenever roads are dug in the future. The plea also asked for restoration of roads and utility connections, and compensation of Rs 1 lakh per household for mental distress.
A bench comprising Chief Justice S A Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arulmurugan adjourned the matter after issuing notice to the concerned departments and setting a two-week deadline for their replies.
