Report to the NGT regarding rice mills operating in Arani taluk and surrounding areas of Thiruvannamalai district without requisite permission for using groundwater, 10/01/2022
A status report in compliance to the National Green Tribunal order, Southern Zone, Chennai, December 09, 2021 in original application 167 of 2021 by Water Resources Department, Ground Water Circle, Tharamani, Chennai.
The matter related to the operation of rice mills in Arani taluk and surrounding areas of Thiruvannamalai district without obtaining the necessary no objection certificate from the concerned authorities for drawing groundwater for their industrial purpose.
The executive engineer, groundwater division, Vellore has issued show-cause notice to the rice mills and 137 rice mills were served the notice, September 24, 2021. The rice mills were asked to submit their explanation on extracting groundwater without valid groundwater NOC. 131 rice mills had replied to the executive engineer, groundwater division, Vellore requesting exemption from obtaining groundwater NOC and the reasons behind the request.
The request was not considered and a 2nd show cause notice was issued to the 137 rice mills, October 20, 2021 to apply for NOC to be obtained from the competent authority and warned that failing to produce groundwater NOC from the competent authority within 15 days, borewell/open/dug well used by the rice mills will be sealed. So far, no application has been received from the rice mills seeking no objection certificate for groundwater extraction to the competent authority.
A third show-cause notice has also been served to the rice mills to produce their groundwater NOC within 15 days from the date of receipt of the notice.