Appellant says the project violates order on protecting water bodies The southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday issued notices to the Pallavaram Municipality, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) on construction of a biomethanation plant on Putheri lake and ‘Mangani Kulam’ in Zamin Raayapettai. The order was passed after an appeal by N. Krishnan of Zamin Raayapettai, who sought an interim injunction restraining the municipality from starting the biogas project. He submitted that the civic body had created a sand bed on the lake’s southern side. “The encroachments made by the private individuals and also by the Municipality are in utter violation of a order of the Rural Development Department on protecting water bodies,” Mr. Krishnan claimed. People living in the vicinity have moved the Madras High Court, which ordered for submission of records by the Alandur Tahsildar. Municipal councillor E. Ranganathan said he had vehemently opposed the project fearing groundwater pollution when the civic body brought the resolution before the council. However, it went ahead despite not receiving any environmental clearance from the TNPCB, he said. Zamin Raayapettai Grama Nala Sangam members want the municipality to stop encroaching lakes and tanks immediately. Municipal Commissioner S. Sivasubramanian said the spot was used as a ‘transfer station’ for which environment clearances were obtained from the pollution control board, and the process to augment a waste-to-energy centre at Venkatamangalam in Kancheepuram district was is in the final stage. Replies to the notices have to be filed by August 4, when the next hearing is scheduled. Municipal councillor E. Ranganathan says he vehemently opposed the project fearing groundwater pollution