Madurai: Theni district collector N Venkatachalam was instructed by the court to inspect the land belonging to former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam's wife. A division bench comprising Justices K Sasidharan and GR Swaminathan issued the order, based on a PIL filed by farmer A. Rengasamy from Lakshmipuram village who alleged that electricity connections were granted in violation of Tangedco rules.
While villagers are suffering from water scarcity despite two public wells, Paneerselvam's wife Vijayalakshmi purchased 18 cents at Lakshmipuram village using her husband's political influence and dug a well. When villagers protested, Paneerselvam's aides pacified them and promised to supply drinking water to the village, claimed the petitioner.
They also dug four borewells with electric motors and were pumping and transporting water through pipelines to various places for payment. Under this circumstance, when Vijayalakshmi tried to dig another well in the same area, villagers protested.
Based on the representation to the collector, RDO Periyakulam inspec-ted the spot and ordered an injunction, the farmer said. The latter represented to the authorities to disconnect electricity supply to Vijayalakshmi's land as it is situated only 15 mts and 17 mts from the river bank, citing the electricity board circular dated May 1994 which clearly stated that electricity was not to be supplied to agricultural pump sets situated 200 mts from river banks.
As the authorities failed to take action, the petitioner approached the court for a remedy. Directing the collector to file the report, the court posted the next hearing to July 24.
