Madras High Court seeks response on tackling floods

A division bench comprising Justice N Kirubakaran and Kirshnan Ramasamy while dealing with a plea about a building which was built in gross violation of the rules, said, “It would not be out of context to state that even, due to the rainfall on Thursday, which lasted for one or two hours, the roads were flooded, and water channels  were choked, and plight of the roads were pitiable.” 

“Since monsoon is active, steps have to be taken to see that the city is not flooded during the rainy season and it is the duty of the Corporation of Chennai to take urgent measures in the interest of public or else the situation that prevailed in 2015 would recur,” the bench added and directed the Commissioner to offer his response on July 17. 

The bench also on finding that the police had failed to provide protection to the Corporation officials to lock and seal a building constructed in violation of the rules, said, “Since the officials have expressed that their inability to provide bandoboust to the authorities was due to compelling circumstances, they are let off with a warning and they shall not repeat the same in future.” 

“Since it has become evident that the police authorities are not co-operating with the local body authorities in the discharge of their official functions, it would be appropriate to direct the Director General of Police as well as the Commissioner of police, Chennai to make sure that their subordinate officials cooperate with the local body officials in the implementation of the orders passed by this Court as well as  statutory orders in future,” the bench added.