Summary:
Replying to a query from Mr.
Justice Kirubakaran, the Commissioner told the Bench that there were more than 200 waterbodies within the corporation limits. After passing orders in the case, the judges broached the subject with Chennai Corporation Commissioner D.
Karthikeyan when he appeared before the court in connection with another case. He added that the corporation had identified 26,837 encroachments along the banks of Cooum and Adyar river banks and canals. About 16,250 tonnes of hyacinth and silt had been removed from these canals to ensure free flow of rain water, he claimed. The petitioner had accused the officials of having turned a blind eye to waterbodies within the city limits and thereby let them choke due to rampant encroachments and dumping of garbage..