MADURAI: The Collector was directed by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court to file his reply to a petition by the Farmers Welfare Association alleging that the Daya Engineering College here, owned by Union Minister MK Alagiri’s family, had encroached upon an irrigation tank.Ramalingam, the secretary of the Madurai District Farmers Welfare Association, in his petition before the Bench, had said that the Sivarakottai Karisalkulam tank irrigated 350 acres. The tank was fed by Kamandala stream. Daya Engineering College had purchased 15 acres of land from the farmers of the area at a give away price. Those who refused to part with their lands were also threatened and their lands acquired.The PWD desilted the tank for ` 40 lakh for the benefit of the college. But a canal has been constructed which would enable the emptying of the tank, in order to protect the college. The sluices have been closed.The petitioner averred that the college had not obtained exemption under the Tamil Nadu Land Reforms Act for erecting buildings on farm lands. The waste water from the college flows into Kamandalam stream. Since very deep bore wells had been sunk in the college campus, the ground water table would be affected.He said that he had learnt that the Anna Technical University was planning to grant affiliation to this college. If the college functions fully, they will be affected. Praying for action to clear the block on the inlet channel and free flow of water, he had prayed for a stay of the functioning of the college.A Division Bench comprising Justice P Jyothimani and Justice M M Sundaresh before which the petition came up, directed issue of notice to the District Collector, Superintending Engineer of PWD, the administrator of Daya Engineering College and the Registrar of Anna University.
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