Illegal sewage connections back in focus

The Madras High Court has taken strong exception to the considerable delay in amending the penalty clause of the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919 and asked the state to complete the process at least by June 2016. 

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M M Justice Sundaresh, pointing out that it can’t understand why a simple exercise of increasing the fine for illegal connections took such a long time, said: “We would have required this exercise to be completed at the earliest. But the ground reality in view of the pending elections does not permit this to be done and thus, we call for this exercise to be completed at least by the end of June 2016.” 

The bench held that the five-page affidavit filed by the Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, merely stated that considerable time was required to bring about the amendment as it involved legislative and administrative procedures. 

Also, taking note of an assurance from the government that a similar amendment for municipalities and corporations other than Chennai would be completed simultaneously, the bench listed the case on April 15 to ensure that the matter is proceeding as per the timeline offered by the government.

Change India had moved the plea for immediate steps to protect storm water drains against all sources of pollution such as sewage, human waste, industrial effluents and other types of solid waste, and submit a compliance report within a fixed time. 

Its director A Narayanan had contended that the 13 months’ time sought by the Corporation once again was “extraordinary”  to amend a law.