TN govt opposes Stalin's access to water bodies for desilting drive

The state government cannot be restrained from preventing Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working President MK Stalin from visiting water bodies in any part of Tamil Nadu to take part in his party's desilting drive, as such a relief may lead to breach of law and order, the Salem District Collector submitted in the Madras High Court on Monday.

The district authority submitted this in a counter affidavit filed in response to a petition by the DMK. The DMK's petition wanted the High Court to restrain the state government from preventing Stalin from visiting any part of Tamil Nadu to inspect water bodies.

The main Opposition party filed this petition after Stalin was detained in Coimbatore by police in July en route to Salem to visit the Kacharayanpalayam tank and also to participate in a human chain protest on the issue of all-India medical entrance examination NEET.

In his petition, the district collector opposed the relief sought by the DMK in the absence of infringement of the leader's fundamental right. The district collector said such a relief may lead to a breach of law and order.

The government's top district authority said public interest was of paramount importance and no private interest of the parties with "vested intentions" could be encouraged when it posed threat to harmony.

It may be recalled that the Tamil Nadu government had launched the 'Kudimaramathu scheme' to de-silt water bodies months ago in the state. Also, the DMK has started de-silting water bodies in the state alleging inaction on the part of the state government.

Against this background, the collector in his petition said the DMK was trying to "hijack" a state government scheme to de-silt water bodies and create problems. The case has been posted for further hearing on Tuesday.