Chennai: With the crisis for water assuming alarming proportions, and in the wake of Madras High Court order, the state chief secretary convened a meeting of government department heads to review the status of water bodies and waterways across the state.
The meeting in which the senior officials of various departments including PWD, TWAD and revenue participated, saw the Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan, discuss the constitution of a special wing for management of water bodies, as directed by the Madras High Court, recently.
The court had even warned that Day Zero will not be too far, given the current situation.
The wing shall deal exclusively with the management of water bodies, waterways, canals, tanks, etc., throughout the state and also focus on removal of encroachments in association with Chennai River Restoration Trust. The wing has to conduct land surveys and prepare Form Nos. I and II prescribed under the TN Protection of Tanks Act, 2007 with respect to all water bodies, waterways, watercourses and drainage channels by using advanced instruments, like GPS, ETS, etc.
Also, the court said the government is entitled to take appropriate disciplinary action against the members of the wing, including the chairman, if a case of dereliction of duty is made out.
