Thamirabarani River Granted Legal Personhood: Geography and Environmental Significance

UPSC Relevance: Geography | Environment | Judiciary

Why in News?

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court recognised the Thamirabarani/Porunai River as a deity and granted it legal-personhood status in a pollution-related context.

Geography

  • Flows entirely in Tamil Nadu.

  • Perennial river.

  • Originates in the Pothigai/Agastyamalai hills of the Western Ghats.

  • Flows through Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.

  • Empties into the Gulf of Mannar.

Tributaries

Include:

  • Manimuthar.

  • Gadananathi.

  • Pachaiyar.

  • Chittar.

  • Servalar.

Prelims Pointer

Thamirabarani is unusual among peninsular rivers because it is perennial and confined to Tamil Nadu.