Government urged to implement the Tamil Nadu Tank Protection and Encroachment Removal Act 2007 CUDDALORE: Environmentalists, social service activists and farmers, who met here on Saturday, urged the government to create a separate Ministry for the protection of water sources. The Ministry, in coordination with the people, should formulate measures that would safeguard the water sources. Held under the aegis of the Tamil Nadu Environment Council (TNEC) and the Cuddalore District Consumer Protection Organisation, the meeting called upon the government to implement the Tamil Nadu Tank Protection and Encroachment Removal Act 2007 without delay. It said that the responsibility of managing the tanks should be taken away from the Public Works Department and entrusted to the local bodies. All industrial units that were polluting water sources should be shifted and damages claimed to clean the water sources. The meeting also wanted the management of catchment areas brought under the purview of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. All encroachments on water sources should be removed and in the case of the traditional dwellers, alternative accommodation should be provided in the vicinity. The environmentalists said that no mining activity should be allowed on the hills or in the foothills so as to preserve the water sources originating from there. Those who participated in the meeting included V. Nadanasabapathi of the TNEC, M. Nizamudeen of the consumer forum, L.S. Antonysamy of BLESS service organisation and Victor of the Puducherry Environment Society.