Madras High Court on Thursday noted that it won’t hesitate to order the demolition of Semmenchery police station if found that it is constructed on Tamaraikkeni lake. The High Court bench has directed IIT Madras to constitute a team to inspect the site and submit a report.
The matter was related to a plea filed by Arrappor Iyakkam seeking to quash the reclassification of Tamaraikkeni lake’s land use from a waterbody to institutional use zone. The NGO had sought directions to restore the water body in its original form. The petitioner also sought directions to restrain the authorities from continuing the construction work any further.
Recording and considering the submissions, the High Court directed the State that the Semmencherry police station shall not be used until further orders and no further funds shall be allocated for the project.
HC also directed IIT Madras to appoint two professors for inspecting whether the land was part of any water body or not. “If that is the case, the professors should recommend remedial measures needed to restore the water body,” observed the court.
The matter has been adjourned to April 29.
