The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed Madurai Corporation in coordination with Water Resources Department to lay pipelines to bring fresh water to Koodal Azhagar Perumal Temple tank and restore the water channel.
A Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman was informed by Madurai Corporation that the authorities have completely stopped drainage water being let into the temple tank. Persons who were indulging in such activities were identified and notices had been issued to them.
Earlier, the court had directed the authorities to remove the encroachments made on the southern side of the temple tank and to prevent unauthorised parking. The authorities submitted that pursuant to the court order the encroachments were removed and to prevent unauthorised parking the area was fenced.
The court after perusing the photographs produced by the authorities in this regard said they were satisfied that the directions issued by the court had been scrupulously complied with. The current status should be maintained without any deviation. In the event of any violation by any individual, the Corporation should initiate appropriate criminal prosecution, the court said.
The Temple authorities gave an undertaking to renovate the dilapidated wall of the temple tank. The court was hearing the suo motu public interest litigation petition moved by the High Court’s Registry in 2011 seeking a direction to the authorities to revive the temple tank and notify Koodal Azhagar Perumal Teppakulam as a protected area. Taking into account that the directions of the court were complied with, the court closed the suo motu petition.
Published – May 16, 2026 09:43 pm IST
