Ensure orders are executed or face action, Bench warns IAS officers

It also warned of prosecuting IAS officers for dereliction of duty if they fail to implement court orders.

A division bench comprising Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice Anita Sumant made the observation on Thursday after taking strong exception to its order directing the Managing Director of Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWASSB) to head a joint meeting with different departments and Municipal Corporation and prepare an action plan for laying drainage, sewage and water pipes in the proposed 425 sq km area–which included Kokilambal Nagar and Alagappa Nagar in Thoraipakkam–was not adhered to.

Ongoing through the minutes of the meeting, which was held on January 23, the bench led by Vineet Kothari said, “It appears that no other department of the state government nor any representative of the petitioners association was called for the said meeting to discuss the Joint Action Plan for execution of the scheme for providing the basic amenities in the extended area of the Greater Chennai Corporation  which is said to have been increased from 174 sq km to 426 sq km in the year 2011 after adding 42 local bodies under the Chennai Municipal Corporation.”

Even as the officials present and the counsels appearing for the Corporation and CMWSSB were stumbling to explain as to how a laid road had to be dug open on one side for laying the storm water drain and the other side for drinking water pipes and the center of the road for laying sewerage to avoid pollution and contamination of drinking water, the bench sought to know as how such works can be taken up without a holistic plan in place with relevant departments being on different wave lengths.

While the petitioner’s counsel raised the issue about the lack of drinking water pipelines in many of the areas resulting in people being forced to buy water, the bench pointed out that it was aware that as much as Rs 40 lakh is being spent per month to provide water to VIPs.  With such huge quantum being spent to provide water to the VIPs, why can’t the government resort to laying pipelines and provide water to such VIPs and cut down expenditure, the bench asked.

Also, on finding that the work in the said areas has been completed partially owing to a dispute and a Detailed Project Report worth Rs 200 crore is awaiting approval, the bench said, “When the officials concerned for granting requisite approvals for the project and finance are not available at the meeting, the assurance that the work will be completed within 36 months as envisaged in the said meeting can still be only a farfetched time frame.”  The case has been posted for hearing to March 12.