On 5 August 2024, the Madras High Court directed the State machinery to submit a report detailing the actions taken to remove illegal encroachments on the slopes of Tiruvannamalai Girivalam Hill. The first division bench, composed of acting Chief Justice D Krishnakumar and Justice PB Balaji, considered a public interest litigation filed by advocate Elephant G Rajendran. The litigation seeks the removal of encroachments at the base and slopes of Tiruvannamalai Girivalam hill.
Advocate Elephant Rajendran has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to remove encroachments around the ancient and holy Thamarai Kulam Lake in Tiruvannamalai, which spans over 20 acres. This lake features two ancient mandaps, where during the annual festival of Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, the deities would be displayed for darshan, attracting thousands of devotees to witness the procession and rituals.
However, the local administration and officials from the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (TNHRCE) department allegedly allowed the four sides of the lake to be encroached upon and failed to address the pollution and occupation of the mandaps. As a result, the annual festivals have not been celebrated in the mandaps and the lake for many years.
The First Bench of the Madras High Court issued directions to the Secretary of the Revenue Department, the Secretary of the Public Works Department, the Commissioner of TNHRCE, and the Tiruvannamalai District Collector to remove all encroachments within two weeks and submit an Action Taken Report to the Court. The State requested additional time to provide the report.
The bench also warned that if the State fails to file the status report, the Court will establish an independent committee to take action. The case has been adjourned for three weeks. The petitioner argued that the hill covers a total area of 718 acres and 35,719 square feet, with several streams channeling rainwater to tanks in Tiruvannamalai City.
The petitioner claimed that illegal buildings constructed in the streams obstruct the natural flow of rainwater. Additionally, the petitioner noted that the path to the top of the mountain, where the maha deepam is lit, has been encroached upon by houses. Specifically, the petitioner highlighted that illegal constructions span about 400 feet from the bottom of the hill’s slope. According to the petitioner, lavatories, bathrooms, and septic tanks have been built on the hill’s slope.
Good news!
Advocate Elephant Rajendran Ji filed a PIL to remove the encroachments around an ancient and holy Lake in Tiruvannamalai measuring more than 20 acres – Thamarai Kulam –
This lake has two ancient Mandaps where during an annual festival of Sri… pic.twitter.com/QovnXX6V1x
— trramesh (@trramesh) August 5, 2024
(With inputs from DTNext)
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