Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding Cauvery river pollution, Suriyampalayam village, Erode, Tamil Nadu, 28/01/2020
Order of the National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone, Chennai) in the matter of R. Kandasamy Vs Ministry of Environment And Forest & Others dated 28/01/2020 regarding discharge of untreated effluent into the Cauvery river at RTP Pallam without any purification. Also, in nearby place there are dying factories which also let out the untreated effluents. Though there is sewage treatment plant provided it is not functional and the discharge standard is not in tune with the standard provided by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
One of the polluting industries is a textile processing unit functioning at 9A, Suriyampalayam village, Ramanathampudur Post, Erode whose purifying tank is constructed in a government poramboke land without getting any necessary permission from the authorities and revenue authorities are not taking appropriate action against such encroachment into the government land. Though inspections are being done and electricity connection was disconnected earlier, but the same is being restored immediately. On account of the industrial pollution by the textile industry, the water in Cauvery river is contaminated and getting polluted affecting the health of the people. Apart from the contamination of surface water in the river, it pollutes the ground water as well.
NGT directs the appointment of a joint committee comprising of District Collector, Erode district and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to inspect the area in question and ascertain the genuineness of the allegation made and submit a factual and action taken report including any violations found, before the Tribunal within a period of one month.