Restore original boundaries of Buckingham Canal, HC tells govt.

All structures on the Buckingham Canal, except the pillars of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), flyovers and bridges, should be removed to make the canal navigable within one year and the State government should not regularise any construction or encroachment on the canal, the Madras High Court ordered on Monday.

A Bench of Chief Justice M.N. Bhandari and Justice N. Mala directed the Public Works Department and the Water Resources Organisation to demarcate the boundary of the Buckingham Canal within six months. The court said no extension of the timeline will be given.

“No courts shall entertain any case whatsoever in respect of any dispute pertaining to the encroachments along the Buckingham Canal or grant any order restraining the authorities concerned which would affect the implementation of this order or removal of encroachment”