P.K.Sudhakar v. The State Rep by

ORDER (Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) The petitioner, a farmer and secretary of a community group dedicated to protecting local water bodies, has approached this court ventilating a grievance that Pandravedu Lake (Survey No.39), the Nandimadagu Pond (Survey No.55/3) and their connecting water channels, which support the farming, fishing and drinking needs of nearly 10,000 residents across seven villages, are being slowly choked to death.

¶2The petitioner claims that sixth respondent/Southern Railway has been dumping heavy sand and soil directly into these active water bodies, cutting off vital water flows and blocking local panchayat access roads.

¶3When we look past these allegations and examine the hard facts presented by the Southern Railway, a very different picture emerges. The Tindivanam-Nagari railway project is crucial public project sanctioned back in 2006. More importantly, the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Water Resources Department

(WRD) have granted strict, conditional permissions for this work only after field inspections and joint reviews. To ensure the lake's ecology is preserved, the State authorities and Southern Railway have implemented several key protective measures:

(a) The Government of Tamil Nadu issued No Objection Certificate for transfer of 1.225 hectares of land falling with the Pandravedu Lake for the execution of the railway project.

(b) Rather than simply blocking the water with soil, the WRD directed Southern Railway to build an elevated bridge over the lake with a minimum waterway of 15.0 meters to let water flow completely unobstructed. In response, the Railways went a step further and agreed to construct an 18.0-meter waterway bridge, offering even greater natural flow capacity than required.

(c) The Southern Railway has deposited Rs.2.50 crores with the Water Resources Department for deepening the lake, which will ultimately increase its overall water holding capacity.

(d) The Railways have also committed to undertaking additional deepening works at the Nandi Madagu pond to ensure the surrounding agricultural lands never run dry.

¶4It is, no doubt, true that it is because of active community voices that public projects are strictly complying with high environmental standards. However, a public interest litigation must serve the true public interest. Here, the public interest is twofold, viz., the region desperately needs modern railway connectivity, and it equally needs to secure its water. The steps taken by the Southern Railway and the Water Resources Department strike a perfect balance between these two needs.

¶5As the Southern Railway has already agreed to, funded, and initiated necessary safeguards, specifically the construction of a bridge and deposited necessary funds for lake deepening project, there is absolutely no threat of the Pandravedu Lake being closed or damaged. We find no ground to halt a project of such immense public utility. The Writ Petition is, accordingly, dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, interim application stands closed. (SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI,CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J)

15.07.2026 Index : : sasi To:

¶1The Secretary to Government Water Resources Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

¶2The Additional Chief Secretary to Government Water Resources Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009.

¶3The Engineer-in-Chief and Chief Engineer (General) Water Resources Department, Chennai-600 005.

4.The Chief Engineer Water Resources Department, Chennai Region, Chennai-600 005.

5.The District Collector O/o.District Collector Office, Tiruvallur District.

6.The Deputy Chief Engineer/Construction Southern Railway, East Tambaram, Chennai-600 045. THE HON'BLE CHIEF JUSTICE AND G.ARUL MURUGAN,J.

(sasi)

15.07.2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 15.07.2026 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN and W.M.P.No.16204 of 2026 P.K.Sudhakar S/o.Koottiswaran, 451, Mel Street, Pandaravedu Post, Tiruvallur - 631 208. Petitioner(s) Vs 1. The State Rep by The Secretary to Government Water Resources Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009. 2. The Additional Chief Secretary to Government Water Resources Department, Fort St. George, Chennai-600 009. 3. The Engineer-in-Chief and Chief Engineer (General) Water Resources Department, Chennai-600 005. 4.The Chief Engineer Water Resources Department, Chennai Region, Chennai-600 005. 5.The District Collector O/o.District Collector Office, Tiruvallur District. 6.The Deputy Chief Engineer/Construction Southern Railway, East Tambaram, Chennai-600 045. Respondent(s) PRAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus to direct respondents 1 and 2 to forbear respondents 3 to 6 from closing the water body, namely Pandravedu Lake in Survey No.39, 55/3 and 34/18 situated at Pandravedu Village, Pallipatu Taluk, Tiruvallur District, pursuant to the petitioner's representation dated 21.07.2025. For Petitioner(s): Mr.R.Thirumoorthy For Respondent(s):Mr.Mohammed Fayaz Ali Government Pleader for R1 to R5 Mr.AR.L.Sundaresan Additional Solicitor General of India Assisted by Mr. K.Srinivasa Murthy Senior Panel Counsel Central Government for R6.