Sat Sep 27 14:51:06 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the text:
**Summary:**
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ordered the State of Tamil Nadu to submit a detailed report on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the restoration of the Kiruthumal river. The PIL, filed by advocate R. Manibharathi, highlights the river’s deterioration due to neglect, encroachment, pollution, and waste dumping along its 74 km course through several districts. The petitioner requests a comprehensive digital survey of the river, removal of encroachments and pollutants, and a guaranteed water supply from the Vaigai river. The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 16th.
**News Article:**
**Madras High Court Demands Action on Dying Kiruthumal River**
*Madurai, September 27, 2025* – The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has intervened in the ongoing degradation of the Kiruthumal river, directing the Tamil Nadu state government to provide a comprehensive report on its efforts to restore the vital waterway. The court’s order comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate R. Manibharathi, highlighting the alarming state of the river.
The Kiruthumal, which traverses 74 kilometers through the districts of Madurai, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, and Ramanathapuram, has suffered severe neglect, becoming a dumping ground plagued by pollution and encroachments, according to the petition. Once revered, the river is now a source of mosquito infestations and a symbol of environmental mismanagement.
Mr. Manibharathi’s PIL calls for urgent action, including a digital survey using Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) technology to map the river’s boundaries and identify encroachments. The petition also demands the removal of illegal structures, a halt to sewage and garbage dumping, and a guaranteed water supply from the Vaigai river to revitalize the Kiruthumal.
“The Kiruthumal river is in a deplorable state, impacting the environment and the lives of people in these districts,” stated Mr. Manibharathi in his petition. “Despite repeated representations to the authorities, little action has been taken.”
Justices G.R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalendhi of the Division Bench have taken cognizance of the urgency of the matter and scheduled the next hearing for October 16th, demanding a detailed report from the state government on the steps taken, or planned, to address the issues raised in the PIL. The future of the Kiruthumal river, and the communities that depend on it, now rests on the government’s response.
First Piper 