Demolition of artificial waterfalls in private resorts, bungalows commences again in Tenkasi district

After an inexplicable long gap, demolition of artificial waterfalls created in private resorts and bungalows along the foothills of the scenic Western Ghats in the district by illegally diverting the wild streams commenced surprisingly on Monday, thanks to the determination exhibited by District Collector Ranjeet Singh and Sub-Collector, Tenkasi, Vaishnavi Paul.

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A public interest litigation praying for closure of the resorts which had illegally diverted the natural flow of water in wild streams flowing from the Western Ghats for creating artificial waterfalls within their properties for attracting the tourists came up for hearing in Madurai Bench of Madras High Court in November 2022. The litigant said most of the owners of the bungalows and the resorts in the Western Ghats had illegally diverted the wild streams to create artificial waterfalls within their campus of their properties with the motive of making huge money from the tourists thronging these places round-the-year, particularly during ‘Courtallam Season’ between June and August.

The petitioner appealed to the Court to seal these resorts and the bungalows which had diverted the wild streams of the Western Ghats for creating artificial waterfalls within their campus for making money while obstructing the natural flow of water to the irrigation tanks of Paimpozhil, Ilaththur, Seevanallur, Karisal and other areas.

Moreover, the uncontrolled use of soaps, detergents, shampoo, oil, liquor and discarded liquor bottles by the bathers seriously polluted the water flowing via these artificial waterfalls.

Subsequently, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court directed the Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari, Coimbatore and The Nilgiris District Collectors to form committees to inspect these resorts.

The Court then observed: ‘The natural system should not be modified to man’s whims and fancies. These Committees should inspect all the rivers flowing from the Western Ghats and identify the diversions made for creating waterfalls within the resorts and the bungalows. If any diversion of water course for commercial gain was noticed, the same should be reported to the Court within three months”.

And, the District Collectors of these five districts formed committees for inspecting the resorts and the bungalows built in the Western Ghats and most of the 29 resorts and bungalows in Tenkasi district, all owned by political bigwigs, caste leaders and the rich, were found to have diverted the watercourse and created artificial waterfalls for commercial gain.

On getting reports from the Collectors, the Court directed them seal these properties and demolish the structures made for diverting the water.

The then Tenkasi District Collector P. Akash personally visited the spots where the water was diverted and the structures were removed. Moreover, these resorts and the bungalows were sealed. However, the owners of these resorts and the bungalows managed to exert pressure on the official machinery to illegally revive their waterfalls.

When the peeved agriculturists raised this issue with Mr. Ranjeet Singh during the farmers’ grievances redressal meeting held recently, the Collector assured them of prompt action.

Even as the farmers’ hopes waned, an inspection team led by Ms. Vaishnavi surprisingly swung into action on Monday at Maekkarai and other areas, where they identified 15 or 20-feet-tall concrete walls with 2 feet width had been constructed across the wild streams for creating at least 30 illegal artificial waterfalls.

The inspection team’s earthmover could not demolish this heavy concrete structure. “We’re planning to use construction excavators for the demolition of these concrete walls,” said a member of the inspection team. “The Collector and the Sub-Collector showed exemplary courage and determination in removing these illegal structures despite immense pressure from caste leaders, politicians, bureaucrats in the State and the Centre”.

The farmers say that the ongoing drive should be continued until the last illegally created artificial waterfalls in this region is removed.

“The cost involved in removing the concrete structures should be collected from the erring bungalow or resort owners. If anyone is found to create the artificial waterfalls again, criminal case should be registered against the owner of the bungalow or resort,” the farmers say.