6 months ago
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The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court connected Thursday ordered announcement to the State authorities connected a nationalist involvement litigation petition that sought a absorption to the authorities to revise and rationalise h2o tariff, retrieve h2o taxation arrears and utilise it for protection, restoration and rejuvenation of Tamirabharani river.
A Division Bench of Justices G. R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalendhi was proceeding a petition filed by S. Kamaraj alias Muthalankurichi Kamaraj of Seydunganallur of Thoothukudi district.
The petitioner said respective industries were established successful SIPCOT concern estates astatine Gangaikondan and Thoothukudi. Enormous quantities of h2o were drawn from the stream for commercialized purposes. Despite specified precocious measurement extraction, the tariff remains frozen astatine ₹1.50 per 1,000 litres, arsenic per a G.O. issued successful 1998.
No revision has been attempted adjacent aft important inflation, intensified industrialisation and rapidly mounting ecological stress. This stagnant pricing authorities violated the user-pays rule and results successful unjustified subsidisation of backstage nett astatine the outgo of biology deterioration, helium said.
These industries proceed to extract h2o without fulfilling their taxation obligations, starring to important pending dues that hinder effectual assets management. The deficiency of an effectual monitoring strategy has resulted successful difficulties successful tracking h2o usage and ensuring compliance with taxation payments. The existing taxation rates were established years agone and person not been adjusted to bespeak inflation, helium said.
The cumulative arrears amounting to implicit ₹250 crore deprived the State of important funds that could beryllium utilized for desilting, flood management, contamination power and ecological restoration of the Tamirabharani basin. The inaction besides burdens the communal antheral who pays for drinking h2o portion ample industries exploit the aforesaid stream astatine a fraction of the outgo oregon without outgo altogether, helium said.
He sought a absorption to the authorities to hole and people a broad study of each the concern and organization units drafting h2o from Tamirabharani river, indicating their tariff category, quantity drawn and taxation arrears and taxable a study to the court
He sought a absorption to the authorities to place the industries and institutions drafting h2o oregon occupying portions of the river, see them arsenic encroachers and region the encroachments.
He besides sought a absorption to the authorities to revise and rationalise the h2o tariff fixed by the Public Works Department and guarantee that the recovered amounts were utilised exclusively for the protection, restoration, and rejuvenation of Thamirabarani river. The tribunal posted the substance for proceeding to December 4.
