National Green Tribunal
T. Rajamanickam S/O. Thirunavukarasu vs The District Environmental Engineer ... on 8 June, 2021
Bench: K. Ramakrishnan, K. Satyagopal
Item No. 5 & 6:-
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI
Original Application No.191 of 2015 (SZ)
With
Original Application No.178 of 2014 (SZ)
(Through Video Conference)
IN THE MATTER OF:
S.P. Muthuraman,S/o. S. Ponnusamy,
No.204, Railway Feeder Road,
Sankar Nagar Post,Thirunelveli District.
...Applicant(s)
Versus
The Union of India,
Rep. by the Secretary to Government,
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change,
Government of India, Indira Paryavaran Bhavan,
Jorbagh Road, Aliganj, New Delhi and Ors.
...Respondent(s)
WITH
T. Rajamanickam S/o. Thirunavukarasu,
44-E, Pandiyapuram South Street,
Pettai, Thirunelveli.
...Applicant(s)
Versus
The District Environmental Engineer,
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board,
30/2, SIDCO Industrial Estate,
Pettai, Thirunelveli and Ors.
...Respondent(s)
Date of hearing: 08.06.2021.
[1]
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. RAMAKRISHNAN, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE MR. Dr. K. SATYAGOPAL, EXPERT MEMBER
O.A. No.191/2015:
For Applicant(s): Mrs. Me. Saraswathy represented
Mr. S. Muthuvairam.
For Respondent(s): Mrs. Me. Saraswathi for R1.
Mr. D.S. Ekambaram through
Mrs. Jayalakshmi for R2.
Dr. V.R. Thirunarayananfor R3, R6 & R7.
Mr. C. Kasirajan through
Ms. D. Ashwini for R4, R5.
Mr. Abdul Saleem and
Mr. Saravanan for R8.
O.A. No.178/2014:
For Applicant(s): None.
For Respondent(s): Mr. C. Kasirajan through
Ms. D. Ashwini for R1.
Dr. V.R. Thirunarayananfor R2.
Mr. Abdul Saleem and
Mr. Saravanan for R3.
ORDER
1. The above case is in respect of pollution caused to Thamirabarani River.
Several directions have been issued by this Tribunal and as per last order dated 21.01.2021, this Tribunal had considered the status report and action plan submitted by the Tirunelveli Corporation dated 17.01.2021 in Para 3 of the order and thereafter, passed the following order:-
[2]"4. It is seen from the report that they proposed to have certain long term and short term measures to meet the situation in respect of resolving the issue regarding discharge of untreated sewage into the water body. But in that report as per the short term measures that work will be completed by 28.02.2021 and as regards the long term measures they wanted time upto 31.01.2022 and 31.07.2022 respectively.
5. As regards the other suggestions given, there is nothing mentioned in the status report and the action plan submitted by the Tirunelveli Corporation. When this was pointed out, the learned counsel appearing for the Tirunelveli Corporation submitted that if some more time is granted they will come with a further report regarding those aspects as well.
6. In order to monitor the compliance with the recommendations made by the committee, we feel that it is necessary to direct the committee itself to supervise the same as to whether the recommendations made by them were complied with by the Tirunelveli Corporation and whether those things are sufficient to meet the situation till permanent solution is made by them and to submit the report to this Tribunal in this regard.
7. The learned counsel appearing for the Tirunelveli Corporation submitted that there is another Suo-Motu case pending before the Principal Bench as O.A. No. 673 of 2018 where in also certain directions have been issued by the Principal Bench and compliance of those directions are being monitored by the Principal Bench as well.
8. It may be mentioned here, that it appears to be related to the polluted river stretches all over India and the directions are being given in that case to make the polluted rivers pollution free. However, we are dealing with specific issues in the region and giving further directions in order to quicken the process will not in any way affect the jurisdiction of this Tribunal on the ground of pendency of a larger issue being pending before the Principal Bench. This will only accelerate the action to be taken by the authorities and quicken the process and make the river stretch which is the subject matter in this case pollution free quickly.[3]
9. The office is directed to take the directions issued by the Principal Bench in O.A. No 673 of 2018 and place the same in this case so that this Tribunal can consider those aspects and pass appropriate orders in tune with the directions given by the Principal Bench to avoid conflicting directions being given.
10. The Committee as well as Tiruneveli Corporation are directed to submit the further report as well progress of their work and also in compliance with the directions mentioned above to this Tribunal on or before 24.03.2021 by e-filing in the form of searchable PDF/OCR Support PDF and not in the form of Image PDF along with necessary hardcopies to be produced as per rules.
11. In the mean time, the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) is also directed to monitor the progress of the work and submit their independent report regarding the change in the water quality on account of any temporary measures taken by the Tirunelveli Corporation to avoid such things being happening, so that this Tribunal can ascertain as to whether the temporary measures provided is sufficient to meet the situation till permanent long term action plan is implemented
12. The Registry is directed to communicate this order to the members of the committee as well as Tirunelveli Corporation and also to the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board immediately through e-mail so as to enable them to comply with the direction."
2. The case was posted to 24.03.2021 for consideration of further reports.
Thereafter, the matter has been adjourned from time to time by notification and lastly, it was adjourned to today by notification dated 27.04.2021.
3. When the matter came up for hearing today through Video Conference, Mrs. Me. Saraswathy represented Mr. Muthuvairamcounsel for the applicant in O.A. No.191/2015 stating that he could not able to connect [4] due to some technical problem and there is no representation for the applicant in O.A. No.178/2014. Mrs. Me. Saraswathy represented 1st respondent in O.A. No.191/2015, Mr. D.S. Ekambaram through Mrs. P.Jayalakshmi represented 2nd respondent in O.A. No.191/2015, Dr. V.R. Thirunarayananrepresented respondents 3, 6 & 7 in O.A. No.191/2015 and 2nd respondent in O.A. No.178/2014, Mr. C. Kasirajan through Ms. D. Ashwini represented respondents 4 & 5 in O.A. No.191/2015 and 1 st respondent in O.A. No.178/2014, Mr. Abdul Saleem and Mr. Saravanan represented 8th respondent in O.A. No.191/2015 and 3rd respondent in O.A. No.178/2014.
4. The Joint Committee has filed a report dated Nil e-filed on 22.03.2021 and received on 23.03.2021, wherein, after making discussion about the various action plan and its implementation stage and also producing certain photographs showing the nature of the work done, made the following observations regarding the further action to be taken by the parties to mitigate the situation which reads as follows:-
"Joint Committee Report submitted to Hon'ble National Green Tribunal with respect to order dated 21/01/2021 in
0.A.No.191 of 2015 (SZ) filed by Thiru S.P. Muthuraman tagged with Original Application No.178/2014 filed by Thiru. T. Rajamanickam, before Hon'ble National Green Tribunal (SZ) Hon'ble NGT (SZ) in its order dated 21/01/2021 in O.A.No.191 of 2015 (SZ) filed by Thiru S.P. Muthuraman tagged [5] with Original Application No. 178/2014 filed by Thiru. T. Rajamanickam vide Para No.6 has directed the following:
Para-6: "In order to monitor the compliance with the recommendations made by the committee, we feel that it is necessary to direct the committee itself to supervise the same as to whether the recommendations made by them were complied with by the Tirunelveli Corporation and whether those things are sufficient to meet the situation till permanent solution is made by them and to submit the report to this Tribunal in this regard."
Hence the joint Committee meeting was convened by the District Collector/Chairman ,Joint Committee on 25/02/2021 by 10.00 A.M at Tirunelveli District Collectorate to review the compliance of action plan furnished by the local body concerned in the control of sewage pollution to water bodies mainly River Thamirabarani and various irrigation channels.
During the meeting, the District Collector, Tirunelveli reviewed the various action plans furnished by the local body concerned in the control of sewage pollution to water bodies mainly River Thamirabarani and various irrigation channels.
During the meeting, the Municipal Commissioners of Vickramasingapuram and Ambasamudram have informed that the study on the quantity of sullage generated and the insitu treatment units proposed for the treatment of sullage/grey water let out from the area was carried out by Tamil Nadu Water Investment Company Limited [TWICL], Chennai.
Similarly the Executive Officers of the Town Panchayats also informed that an inception study have been conducted in all town Panchayats on the sewage generation and pollution caused to the irrigational channels and about the treatment units to be adopted.
Hence the District Collector, Tirunelveli has suggested that the actual quantity of sewage/sullage generated, number of discharge points, treatment plant details is required and the [6] consultant appointed for the study by the Local bodies may be called for a presentation before the joint committee to finalise the status of action plan prepared and the proposed date of completion of action plan. The minutes of the meeting is enclosed in Annexure-1 Accordingly the Commissioner, Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation, the Commissioners, Vickramasingapuram Municipality & Ambasamudram Municipality and the Executive Officers, of Kallidaikurichi, Veeravanallur, Mukkudal, Pathamadai, Melasevel, Cheranmahadevi, Gopalasamudram & Naranammalpuram Town Panchayats were addressed to make a presentation on 09/03/2021 before the Joint Committee.
On 09/03/2021, the Local Bodies namely Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation, Municipalities & Town Panchayats discharging sewage into River Thamirabarani and irrigation channels had made a presentation on the various actions taken on the compliance of action plan to curtail the sewage discharge into water bodies and the time schedule for completion of the action plan.
The present status of action plan furnished by the Local body is tabulated in Annexure-2 The status of compliance of the Joint Committee recommendation is tabulated in Annexure-3 The following action is to be taken by the Local bodies to expedite the commencement and completion of action plan
1. The corporation has informed that action plan for temporary treatment of Sewage of 0.26 MLD was submitted only for Sewage water directly let into the River Thamirabarani. Committee is of the opinion that sewage pollution causing to any water bodies needs to be addressed, so the corporation shall prepare action plan for remaining sewage being discharged without treatment other than the Tamirabarani river.
2. The Corporation has informed that the temporary DEWATS system provided in the flood plain zone is not affected [7] during the recent flood of January 2021. In order to verify the claim made by the corporation, TNPCB shall inspect the site to assess the status as well as functioning/ working efficiency of temporary treatment system & its maintenance and submit the report with evidences.
3. Even though corporation claims that the system is not affected due to flood. Committee is of the opinion that any activities being carried out in flood plain zone found to be in violation, so PWD shall issue necessary notice to corporation to stop & relocate the activities from flood plain zone.
4. The Tirunelveli Corporation shall complete the construction of DEWATS treatment in the left out location namely Korukkuthurai, Vannarapettai Ramalingar Street & Udayarpatti and put into operation after obtaining necessary permission from PWD.
5. DEWATS technology includes specific vegetation to reduce pollution load, which is not completed so for. Corporation shall take necessary steps to complete the work within a month.
6. The Tirunelveli Corporation shall periodically maintain the DEWATS treatment units in operation for removal of solids captured and the filtration bed materials to be regularly replaced for effective operation.
7. The Tirunelveli Corporation shall explore the possibility of providing temporary treatment units to treat the sewage let into irrigation channel namely Kodagan Channel, Palayamkal Channel, Tirunelveli Channel to reduce pollution load.
8. The Tirunelveli Corporation shall expedite the completion of the UGSS Phase-II & Phase-III and to adhere to the time schedule.
9. The Tirunelveli Corporation shall take necessary action to obtain Consent to Establish from TNPCB for the proposed Sequential Batch Reactor based Sewage Treatment Plant.
[8]10. The Tirunelveli Corporation shall take necessary action to assess the quantity of effluent to be generated from the dhobikana to be setup and the details on the Effluent Treatment Plant proposed and to commence the establishment of the plant after obtaining Consent to Establish of the TNPCB.
11. The Tirunelveli Corporation shall take necessary action to explore all possibilities to utilise the treated sewage for beneficial use.
12. The Vickramasingapuram & Ambasamudram Municipality shall finalise the mode of short term treatment options for the treatment and disposal of grey water and to expedite the work immediately.
13. The Vickramasingapuram & Ambasamudram Municipality shall take necessary action to prioritize the septic tanks for cleaning and ensure that the vehicle engaged for septic tank cleaning disposes the septic tank waste only to FSTP for further treatment and disposal.
14. The Town Panchayats mentioned in the report shall take necessary action to prepare DPR for the treatment and disposal of the sewage /sullage let into irrigation channels/ Thamirabarani river."
5. The Pollution Control Board also filed a status report dated Nil e-filed on 02.02.2021 received on the same day which reads as follows:-
"Status Report filed on behalf of the respondents Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board I, S. Ragupathi, S/o. Thiru. R. Sanganan, Hindu, aged about 56 years, having my office at No.76, Mount Salai, Guindy, Chennai
- 600 032, do hereby solemnly affirm and sincerely state as follows:-[9]
1. I am the Joint Chief Environmental Engineer, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Chennai and I am filing this status report on behalf of the respondents TNPC Board and as such I am well acquainted with the facts of the case as per records.
2. It is respectfully submitted that the Hon'ble NGT (SZ) has passed order dated 03.12.2020 among the other things inter alia that:
"The Pollution Control Board is also expected to monitor the situation on the basis of the Joint Committee report and come with a further status report and action taken report if, there is any violation found in respect of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981 against the persons who are responsible for the same. They are also expected to consider the question as to whether the directions issued by the Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal in O.A. No.606 of 2018 are being complied with by the local body and if not, what is the action taken by them in order to execute the directions of the Principal Bench in this regard."
3. It is respectfully submitted that in pursuance to the said NGT (SZ) order, the present status of the compliance of recommendations incorporated in the joint committee report as furnished by the stakeholders department is as follows:
Sl. Joint Committee Recommendation Status of compliance No. 1 The Tirunelveli Municipal The temporary action for the treatment Corporation has submitted action of 0.26 MLD is only for the treatment of plan for temporary treatment of sewage presently discharged into River sewage is 0.26 MLD only, whereas Thamirabarani.
estimated generation is 58 MLD. So the corporation shall submit The corporation has not furnished the modified action plan for the temporary action plan for the treatment identified gap for temporary of sewage let out into Kodagan treatment of untreated sewage Channel, Palayamkal Channel and discharge until providing full Tirunelveli Channel.
[10]fledged treatment system.
2 The Tirunelveli Municipal The corporation is operating a STP of Corporation has submitted the capacity 24.2 MLD adopting the waste action plan for commission of STP stabilization pond (WSP) treatment. by 2022 based on the present sewage generation, so corporation shall The sewage collected from Phase-I submit modified action plan with existing UGSS scheme is 10 MLD is projection of sewage generation presently being treated in the 24.2 MLD (projection may be made based on STP in operation adopting the waste population, urban development etc.) stabilization pond (WSP) treatment.
It is informed that the sewage collected from existing Phase-I UGSS scheme and proposed phase-II UGSS scheme is 24 MLD which is proposed to be treated in the above said 24.2 MLD WSP treatment by modifying into SBR treatment modules of 12 MLD capacities (2 Nos.) to meet the CPCB norms.
It is informed that the sewage proposed to be collected from Phase-III UGSS scheme will be 34 MLD by adopting SBR treatment in phased manner by providing 10 MLD, 10 MLD and 14 MLD.
3 The Tirunelveli Municipal The Tirunelveli Corporation has Corporation shall expedite the informed the following:
UGSS Phase-II and III and to ensure that the time schedule for completion The UGSS Scheme Phase-II is under Phase-II (25.01.2022) and Phase-III execution at a cost of Rs.291.81 crores (22.07.2022) to be adhered to. by L&T Constructions commenced on 26/07/2018 and expected to be completed by 25/01/2022 and around 55% work has been completed.
The UGSS Scheme Phase-III is under
execution at cost of Rs.421.54 Crores by
Simplex Infrastructure Limited
commenced on 23.01.2019 and expected
to be completed by 22.07.2022 and
around 15.1% work has been
completed.
[11]
4 The Tirunelveli Municipal It is informed by the Tirunelveli
Corporation shall monitor the septic Corporation that all septic tank
tank cleaning process carried out in cleaners are registered with Tirunelveli
the corporation area and only Corporation.
dedicated septic tank cleaning
vehicles to be utilized with GPS The Tirunelveli Corporation has to fit
tracking mechanism to ensure that the septic tank cleaning vehicles
the same is not disposed into any registered with corporation with GPS
water bodies and may be disposed in tracking arrangement to ensure that the
the existing waste stabilization pond collected sewage is taken to the existing
after conducting necessary studies. WSP treatment plant in operation until
UGSS Scheme is completed.
5 The Tirunelveli Municipal The unit has proposed to revamp the
Corporation shall explore the existing 24.2 MLD WSP Treatment with
possibility of providing a full fledged SBR treatment to meet CPCB norms. STP with ultra filtration system for the total capacity of sewage Accordingly, the Corporation has collected from the existing proposed to revamp the existing 24.2 underground sewerage system MLD WSP treatment units and modified presently treated in the WSP and into by providing 12 MLD SBR (2 Nos.) from the proposed UGSS phase II & to treat the sewage generated from III under implementation. existing UGSS Phase-I and proposed UGSS Scheme Phase-II.
Also the Corporation has also proposed to provide 34 MLD capacities STP with SBR treatment by providing 10 MLD, 10 MLD & 14 MLD capacity STPs to treat the sewage generated from proposed UGSS Phase-III.
6 The Tirunelveli Municipal The Tirunelveli is yet to furnish suitable Corporation shall utilize the treated proposal in this regard.
sewage for further beneficial use and a proposal shall be prepared and to be implemented.
7 Since DEWAT system is a temporary The Tirunelveli Corporation has arrangement for treating waste proposed 10 DEWATS treatment units water until full fledge STP being to treat the sewage joints with river provided by Tirunelveli Corporation. Thamirabarani at 8 locations. The objective is to reduce the load to river until providing full fledged Presently, 6 Nos. DEWATS treatment treatment and hence study by informed to be completed and put into reputed institute is not required. operation.
[12]However, treatment technology proposed by other municipality/town Remaining 4 DEWATS treatment in panchayats shall be studied by remaining 4 locations in progress reputed institute, since it is a permanent treatment technology The Municipality/Town Panchayat have going to be adopted. been addressed to get the design of the treatment units vetted by reputed institute and to furnish the report.
8 Expedite to complete plantation To be complied with proposed in DEWAT treatment system, so that further pollution load will be reduced before discharge to river.
9 The temporary insitu treatment Yes, the insitu treatment is located such systems proposed by Tirunelveli that it will be affected during floods. Corporation for the treatment of sewage directly let into river Thamirabarani is located in the river bed within the river boundary and in flood plain zone. The activity will be affected during heavy floods.
10 The Tirunelveli Municipal The Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation Corporation shall expedite the has informed tender has been fixed on action in providing dhobikana 27.01.2021 at a cost of Rs.4.2 Crores to arrangements with ETP for the provide Dhobikana arrangements with treatment of trade effluent generated ETP for treatment of effluent. to satisfy the disposal standards prescribed by the Board and thereby avoid washing of clothes by washer man in River Thamirabarani. The treatment system shall be provided after assessment of effluent generation.
11 Vickramasingapuram and The details to be furnished.
Ambasamudram Municipalities has submitted action plan without assessing the quantum of sewage generation. Both municipalities shall submit modified action plan after assessing the quantum of generation.
12 The local bodies shall expedite the The status of the completion of FSTP [13] completion of Faecal Sludge for the treatment of sewerage. Treatment Plant (FSTP) and the treatment system proposed for grey VK Puram Municipality - Proposed to water treatment to avoid be completed by 15.12.2021. contamination of River water flowing in the irrigation channel. Ambasamudram Municipality -
Proposed to be completed by 15.02.2021.
The status of providing insitu treatment for the treatment of grey water by local bodies.
VK Puram Municipality DPR preparation is carried out by TWIC, Chennai and informed to be completed in one year from the date of work order.
Ambasamudram Municipality DPR preparation is carried out by TWIC, Chennai and informed to be completed in one year from the date of work order.
8 Town panchayats (Kallidaikurichi, Veeravanallur, Mukkudal, Chernamahadevi, Pathamadai, Gopalasamudram, Melasevel, Naranmmalpuram) DRP under preparation by TWIC.
Work yet to be started.
13 The local bodies shall provide To be implemented by local bodies.
warning sign board at all accessible locations to river Thamirabarani which should carry the fine to be paid by the offender who carried washing of vehicles and also seizure of such vehicles as per prevailing regulators.
14 The District Administration shall Being complied. The latest report is to [14] continue to monitor the illegal sand be furnished on the action taken on mining in River Thamirabarani illegal sand mining.
4. It is respectfully submitted that the stakeholders department such as Tirunelveli Corporation, VK Puram Municipality, Ambasamudram Municipality, Kallidaikurichi TP, Veeravanallur TP, Mukkudal TP, Cheranmahadevi TP, Pathamadai TP, Gopalasamudram TP, Melasevai TP, Naranammal Puram TP and AD, Mines, Tirunelveli were requested to furnish additional details vide DEE, TNPCB, Tirunelveli office letter dated 12.01.2020 the action taken on the compliance of the recommendations suggested by the Joint Committee formed in the matter of Hon'ble NGT O.A. No.191 of 2015.
Under the above circumstances, it is humbly prayed that this Hon'ble National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone) may be pleased to pass such further other orders as this Hon'ble Tribunal may deem fit and proper in facts and circumstances of this case and thus render justice."
6. It is seen from the reports that though there is certain progress in the implementation of the action plan but it is not moving at the speed at which it was expected to be implemented. Further, it is not known from the report submitted as to whether on account of temporary measures that are taken by the local bodies including Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation, any improvement has been caused to the water quality in the Thamirabarani River.
7. It is quite unfortunate that even after more than six years, the condition is still prevailing in the same status. Recently, we have come across two newspaper reports published in Dinakaran daily Nellai Edition dated, [15] 05.06.2021 under the caption "nfhNuhdh Culq;fhy; ejpia fz;Lnfhs;thupy;iy - fopTePu;> Fg;igfshy; khRgLk; jhkpuguzp"
and another newspaper report published in The New Indian Express E-
Paper Edition dated, 05.06.2021 under the caption "Thamirabarani river crying for attention on World Environment Day".
8. The theme of United Nations General Assembly for UN decade 2021-30 is the ecosystem restoration, which includes restoration of polluted river stretches as well, as the river ecosystem play a great role in survival of mankind. They are not only providing water for drinking and irrigation but also provide livelihood for the local fishermen and essential for other purposes as well. Providing clean water has become part of right to life which is expected to be provided by the Government under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Further, under Article 48 A of the Constitution of India, the State machineries are also having the constitutional obligation to protect the environment which includes river, lake, wildlife etc. Inspite of all these mandates provided under the constitution, the authorities are not moving in the speed at which it was expected to implement the same and to protect the environment. The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 itself was re-enacted thrice from 1998 onwards but in spite of all those things, the sanitary safeguards to be provided by the local bodies are not scientifically improved to the expectation of the people.
[16]9. However, since certain action plan has been provided by the municipalities/corporations and also certain monitoring procedure is being done by the Principal Bench, this Bench need only to see that the directions issued by the Principal Bench in such cases are being implemented with a shorter time line to protect environment and no direction is expected to be given in contra to the direction given by the Principal Bench as well.
10.So, the Pollution Control Board as well as the committee are directed to ascertain as to whether the temporary measures taken by the municipality/corporation had achieved any improvement in the water quality in the river and if not, what are the further steps to be taken by Tirunelveli Municipal Corporation as well as other neighbouring municipalities to mitigate the situation of polluting the water in Thamirabarani River. It is a long term grievance of the people to get clean water and save Thamirabarani river from pollution which is the obligation of the State Government to implement and redress.
11.The committee as well as the Pollution Control Board are directed to ascertain as to whether the recommendations given by the committee are being implemented by the concerned corporations and municipalities and whether any improvement has caused on account of the implementation of the temporary measures that have been provided in the water quality and if not, what are the further steps proposed to be taken by them to [17] accelerate the completion of these projects and give their specific recommendations as to how this can be implemented in a shorter time line so as to protect the Thamirabarani River from pollution.
12.The Joint Committee, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Tirunelveli Corporation, Vikramasingapuram and Ambasamudhram Municipalities and also Kallidaikurichi, Veeravanallur, Mukkudal, Cheranmahadevi, Pathamadai, Gopalasamudram, Melaseval & Naranammalpuram Town Panchayats are directed to submit their status report regarding the progress of the work done by them to mitigate the situation of protecting Thamirabarani River as envisaged in the minutes of meeting of the Joint Committee.
13.But it is seen from the report that main pollution is caused in the upstream of Thamirabarani which runs through Tirunelveli Corporation, Vikramasingapuram and Ambasamudram Municipalities and other panchayats mentioned appear to be in the downstream of the Thamirabarani River, where the possibility of pollution may be less, that may be the reason why, directions were given by the Joint Committee only to three local bodies to expedite the action plan for implementing the Solid Waste Management Rules and other provisions to protect the Thamirabarani River from pollution.
14.The Registry is directed to communicate this order to the above said authorities by e-mail immediately so as to comply with the direction, [18] apart from communicating this order to the Chief Secretary, State of Tamil Nadu, Principal Secretaries for Environment, Municipal Administration & Water Supply, PWD & WRO, Commissioner of Municipal Administration and Director of Town Panchayat to look into the issue seriously and take special interest to implement the action plan with shorter time line by providing necessary logistics including financial as well as technical support, if any, required to these local bodies to implement the scheme and protect Thamirabarani River from pollution.
A meeting of these municipalities can be convened by the Principal Secretaries so that the progress of the work can be monitored and expedited at the earliest possible time.
15.The above Secretaries are also directed to file their further review reports as directed by this Tribunal before the next hearing date so that further directions on the basis of the recommendations made by the high power committee can be considered and directions can be given. Accordingly if some concrete proposals at the intervention of the high power committee is proposed, then even the case itself can be disposed of on that basis, directing the high power committee to protect the same and implement the same in a quicker manner.
16.They are directed to submit their respective reports to this Tribunal on or before 30.07.2021 by e-filing in the form of Searchable PDF/ OCR [19] Supportable PDF and not in the form of Image PDF along with necessary hardcopies to be produced as per Rules.
17.For consideration of further status as well as progress report, post on 30.07.2021.
Sd/-
...................................J.M. (Justice K. Ramakrishnan) Sd/-
..........................E.M. (Dr. K. Satyagopal) O.A. No.191/2015 & O.A. No.178/2014, 08th June, 2021. Mn.
[20]