NGO removes water hyacinth from Vaigai without nod, officials stop work

Madurai: Members of an NGO who started to remove water hyacinth from the Vaigai river in Madurai city on Wednesday, were stopped by officials of the public works department (PWD) as proper permission was not obtained.According to sources, members of the Madurai-based Star Guru Charitable Foundation, headed by its founder, Gurusamy commenced the work near Kalpalam in Madurai city on Wednesday morning. The NGO had engaged four earthmovers to clear the water hyacinth growth.On information about the work, public PWD officials who came to the spot instructed the NGO to stop the work since permission was not obtained from the officials for the work. Gurusamy picked up a quarrel with the officials. However, the officials said that they would not permit the NGO to carry out the work. So the NGO members left the spot.