National Green Tribunal
P. V.Subramani vs The State Of Tamil Nadu Represented By ... on 23 December, 2020
Author: K. Ramakrishnan
Bench: K. Ramakrishnan
Item No.6:
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI
Original Application No. 410 of 2013 (SZ)
(Through Video Conference)
IN THE MATTER OF:
P.V. Subramanian,
S/o. P. Vellachamy,
Arasamarathupatti,
Neelamalaikottai Post,
Dindugul and Ors. ... Applicant(s)
Versus
State of Tamil Nadu
Represented by its Director,
Environment and Forest Department,
Fort St. George, Chennai & Ors. ... Respondent(s)
Date of hearing: 23.12.2020
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. RAMAKRISHNAN, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE MR. SAIBAL DASGUPTA, EXPERT MEMBER
For Applicant(s): Sri. A. Yogeshwaran.
For Respondent(s): Sri. Dr. V.R. Thirunarayanan for R1.
Sri. C. Kasirajan through
Ms. Meena for R5.
Ms. Meena represented
Sri. M. Guruprasad for R8.
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ORDER
1. As per order dated 28.10.2020, this Tribunal had considered the objections made by the counsel for the applicant and also directed the State Government to come with a concrete guideline / policy as to how the remnant salt left out after manufacturing of Mor Millagai can be safely disposed of without causing any damage to the environment and this Tribunal also directed the committee to conduct the soil as well as the water test during pre-monsoon as well as post-monsoon season and submit a report and posted the case to today for that purpose.
2. When the matter came up for hearing today through Video Conference, Sri. A. Yogeshwaran represented applicant. Sri. Dr. V.R. Thirunarayanan represented 1st respondent, Sri. C. Kasirajan through Ms. Meena represented 5th respondent and Ms. C. Meena represented Sri. M. Guruprasad, the learned counsel appearing 8th respondent.
3. We have received the report submitted by the Joint Committee which reads as follows:-
"The Hon'ble NGT vide order dated: 28.10.2020 in O.A.No 410 of 2013 has directed the following:
1. To conduct the water as well as soil analysis in the neighboring areas, after the peak monsoon is over and submit a report regarding the same. If contamination still continues then they are directed to give their recommendations for remediation of these aspects as well as to how this can be dealt with and the grievance of the applicant can be addressed.[2]
2. To take steps to mitigate the circumstances and disposal of remnant salt left out after manufacturing of Mor Milagai in a scientific manner and also issue necessary guidelines regarding the same.
3. To consider these aspects and come with a concrete proposal as to how this can be scientifically disposed without causing any damage to the environment.
I. The Committee submits its reply to the first direction "To conduct the water as well as soil analysis in the neighboring areas, after the peak monsoon is over and submit a report regarding the same". If contamination still continues then they are directed to give their recommendations for remediation of these aspects as well as to how this can be dealt with and the grievance of the applicant can be addressed of Hon'ble National Green Tribunal as follows:
The Committee noted that TNPC Board has collected soil and water samples on 02.12.2020 and sent for analysis. Report is awaited. The committee advised TNPC Board to collect water as well as soil in neighboring areas after peak monsoon is over. TNPC Board has also accepted to collect water as well as soil samples during post monsoon period of April & May 2021 and submit the report of analysis for taking further recommendation if warrented.
II. The Committee submits its reply to the second direction " To take steps to mitigate the circumstances and disposal of remanant salt left out after manufacturing of Mor Milagai in a scientific manner and also issue necessary guidelines regarding the same" of Hon'ble National Green Tribunal as follows:
1. The Committee observed that the MorMilagai units have provided solar evaporation pan to evaporate the waste water arising out of Mor milagai manufacturing process hence the waste water was found to be dried and the remanant salt is collected and stored.
2. The remanant salt collected is sent for disposal to common facility, where the salt is treated and converted into [3] useful products as the salt is nonhazardous as per the report enclosed.
TNPC Board has authorized a common facility located at Vedharanyam to collect the remanant salt generated from the various type of Industries located in TamilNadu for recovery of salt through salt pans. The following guidelines are followed by Mor Milagai units.
a. All Mor Milagai units should construct elevated solar Evaporation Pan of adequate size prescribed by TNPC Board and maintain it properly.
b. Mor Milagai unit shall dry all the waste water arising from the manufacturing process in the solar evaporation pan such that the waste water is converted into salt by evaporation.
c. The Mor Milagai units shall collect the dried salts from solar evaporation pan as and when dried and pack it in leak proof polythene bag.
d. The Mor Milagai units shall store the polythene bags containing salt in closed shed to avoid any leaching.
e. The Mor Milagai units shall maintain records for the quantity of salt collected, stored and disposed through the common facility.
f. Mor Mialgai units shall dispose the dried remanant salt to TNPC Board authorized common facility without accumulation beyond 200 kg.
g. MorMilagai units either individually or commonly dispose the remanant salt to the common facility.
h. TNPC Board and SriramapuramTown Panchayat shall monitor the dried remanants for proper disposal regularly by verifying records maintained by the Mor Milagai units as well as physically verifying the intact storage of salt collected.
III. The Committee submits its reply to third direction "To consider these aspects and come with a concrete proposal as to how this can be scientifically disposed without causing any damage to the environment" of Hon'ble NGT.
[4]1. The Production quantity, waste water & salt generation details are furnished as follows:
Product MorMilagai 600 Kg/Month 300 Kg/15 days Raw Material i. Green 2000 Kg/Month 1000 Kg/15 days Chilli ii. Salt 200 Kg/Month 100 Kg/15 days iii. Curd 600 L/Month 300 L/15 days iv. Water 800 L/Month 400 L/15 days Trade Effluent 80 L/Month 40 L/15 days Solid Waste i. Waste salt 0.50 Kg/Month 0.25 Kg/15 days from SEP ii. Salt From Drying 10 Kg/Month 5kg/15 days Yard iii. Waste 5 Kg/Month 2.50 kg/15 days Chilli From the above details, it is evident that maximum of 10.5 kg of salt is generated per month from each unit. For a period of one year about 126 kg of salt will be generated on an average from each unit.
2. At present the Mor Milagai units are storing the remanant salt in polythene bags. These are kept in closed shed /building. Mor Milagai units disposes the salt through TNPC Board authorized common facility.
3. The present method of disposal itself is a scientific mode of processing the waste salt. The salt is converted again to crystal salt by the common facility. It is further sent for different useful purposes.
[5]4. The present practice of disposal of remanants through solar evaporation pan is found satisfactory.
Conclusion:
As per the three direction of the Hon'ble NGT in its order dated:28.10.2020 of O.A.No 410 of 2013,the committee thoroughly examined details and concluded the following:
1. Soil and well water samples are collected from all applicants premises and sent for analysis during monsoon period and shall be collected during post monsoon also.
2. Remanant salt generated are stored in premises of Mor milagai units and instructed through TNPC Board for safe disposal through common facility where it is purified and crystallized so that it can be reused in other industries. Till the remanants are disposed it should be safely stored inside the premises.
3. The disposal of remanant salt through common facility shall be made mandatory for every industry Recommendation of the Committee:
1. The DEE a member of the committee shall collect water & soil samples in post monsoon period to comply with the direction and also to assess the condition of water and soil quality.
2. The DEE a member of Committee should monitor the Mor Milagai units and ensure proper storage of remanant salts as well as by Sriramapuram Town Panchayat.
3. All the Mor Milagai units shall dispose the remanant Salts only through common facility such that no damage is caused to environment."
4. It is seen from the report that they want some more time to comply with the directions of this Tribunal to conduct soil as well as the water analysis, after post-monsoon period as well. The only thing that is [6] required is the restoration of the damage caused to the environment in this matter. Only after getting the report, we may be able to ultimately dispose of the matter.
5. So considering the circumstances, we feel that some more time can be granted as requested for by the committee for this purpose. The committee is directed to submit the report to this Tribunal on or before 22.04.2021 by e-filing in the form of Searchable PDF/OCR Supportable PDF and not in the form of Image PDF along with the necessary hardcopies to be produced as per Rules so that the matter can be finally disposed of by giving certain directions to redress the grievance of the applicant.
6. The Registry is directed to communicate this order to the members of the committee by e-mail immediately so as to enable them to comply with the direction.
7. For consideration of report, post on 22.04.2021.
.....................................J.M. (Justice K. Ramakrishnan) ................................E.M. (Shri. Saibal Dasgupta) O.A. No.410/2013, 23rd December, 2020. Mn.
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