Preservation of water is of paramount importance to cater to the needs of the public, observed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court while directing authorities to remove encroachments from a waterbody in Ramanathapuram district and take steps to protect the waterbody.

The court was hearing the petition filed by Rajagopal of Ramanathapuram district who sought a direction to authorities to restore the waterbody situated in Kanjirangudi Panchayat Union at Keelakarai Taluk in Ramanathapuram district.