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The Madras High Court on Tuesday stayed the ₹2-crore penalty imposed by the National Green Tribunal on the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department for failing to initiate appropriate pre-monsoon preparedness work in Chennai, particularly for the Buckingham Canal.
A Division Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Krishan Ramaswamy passed the interim order on an appeal by the Public Works Department (PWD) challenging the order.
On October 31, the NGT imposed the fine, noting that the pace of PWD’s work to resolve these issues was disappointing. The order was passed on a plea by activist Jawaharlal Shanmugam seeking restoration of rivers and canals.
Directing the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to look into the matter directly and ensure that steps are taken on an urgent basis in the interest of the environment and the people, the NGT said the report on removal of encroachments was equally disappointing.
Imposing the penalty, the NGT also warned the PWD that if it failed to comply with the directions, a fine of ₹50,000 per day would be imposed on it.
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