Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News item titled "Encroachers remain on lake despite HC fiat" appearing in The Times of India dated 11.01.2024 dated 26/02/2024.

The application has been registered on the basis of the news item titled "Encroachers remain on lake despite HC fiat" appearing in the ‘Times of India’ dated 11.01.2024. The news item discloses that the Chitlapakkam lake in south Chennai has a water spread of about 53 acres which is now only 47 acres and six acres have been taken over by the encroachers who have built houses on the western side of the lake.

The news item further disclosed that inspite of the order of the Madras High Court, many of the encroachers have been left untouched and out of 403 identified encroachments, authorities have removed only 74 till date. It further discloses that instead of complying with the order of the Court fully and removing all encroachments, WRD is carrying out restoration work at a cost of 25 crore on the available area, thereby legalizing the encroachments.

The court directed notice to be issued to the Water Resource Department, Tamil Nadu; Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board; District Collector/District Magistrate, Kanchipuram and State Wetland Authority. The principal bench of the NGT transferred the matter to the southern zonal bench for appropriate further action and the next hearing of the case will be on April 15, 2024.