Demolition of artificial waterfalls in private resorts, bungalows commences again in Tenkasi district

An artificial waterfalls that was built at a private resort in Maekkarai in Tenkasi district being removed on Monday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

After an inexplicable long gap, demolition of artificial waterfalls created in private resorts and bungalows along the foothills of the scenic Western Ghats in the district by illegally diverting the wild streams commenced surprisingly on Monday, thanks to the determination exhibited by District Collector Ranjeet Singh and Sub-Collector, Tenkasi, Vaishnavi Paul.

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A public interest litigation praying for closure of the resorts which had illegally diverted the natural flow of water in wild streams flowing from the Western Ghats for creating artificial waterfalls within their properties for attracting the tourists came up for hearing in Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in November 2022. The litigant said most of the owners of the bungalows and the resorts in the Western Ghats had illegally diverted the wild streams to create artificial waterfalls within their campus of their properties with the motive of making huge money from the tourists thronging these places round-the-year, particularly during ‘Courtallam Season’ between June and August.

The petitioner appealed to the Court to seal these resorts and the bungalows which had diverted the wild streams of the Western Ghats for creating artificial waterfalls within their campus for making money while obstructing the natural flow of water to the irrigation tanks of Paimpozhil, Ilaththur, Seevanallur, Karisal and other areas.