National Green Tribunal
Tribunal On Its Own Motion Based On The ... vs The Chief Secretary To Govt. Of ... on 2 July, 2021
Bench: K. Ramakrishnan, K. Satyagopal
Item No.4:
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI
Original Application No.130 of 2021 (SZ)
(Through Video Conference)
IN THE MATTER OF:
Suo Motu - Chennai's Sanitation workers live the
horrors of a broken waste disposal system
...Applicant(s)
Versus
The Chief Secretary to Govt. of Tamil Nadu and Ors.
...Respondent(s)
Date of hearing: 02.07.2021.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. RAMAKRISHNAN, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE MR. Dr. K. SATYAGOPAL, EXPERT MEMBER
For Applicant(s): Suo Motu by Court.
For Respondent(s): Dr. D. Shanmuganathan for R1 to R4, R6.
Mr. C. Kasirajan through
Ms. D. Ashwini for R5.
Mrs. P.T. Ramadevi through
Mr. RagulAdhithya for R7, R8.
ORDER
1. When the matter came up for hearing today through Video Conference, Dr. D. Shanmuganathan represented respondents 1 to 4 & 6, Mr. C. [1] Kasirajan through Ms. D. Ashwini represented 5th respondent and Mrs. P.T. Ramadevi through Mr. Ragul Adhithya represented respondents 7, 8.
2. The above case has been Suo Motu registered by this Tribunal on the basis of the newspaper report published in The News Minute dated 19.05.2021 under the caption "Chennai's Sanitation workers live the horrors of a broken waste disposal system".
3. It was alleged in the newspaper report that apart from the pathetic condition of the sanitation workers, the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 are not being implemented. So, the matter was admitted and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and the Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation were directed to file independent reports regarding the same and the case was originally posted to 26.07.2021 for that purpose.
4. Thereafter, we came across another newspaper report published in The Times of India, Chennai Edition dated 30.06.2021 under the caption "Medical waste dumping on roads on rise post 2ndwave".
5. It is alleged in the newspaper report that on the side of the roads in Valasaravakkam, medical waste is being dumped. Though complaints were made to the Pollution Control Board, they have not taken any action in this regard. That is the reason why this Tribunal had advanced the hearing today to direct the Greater Chennai Corporation as well as the [2] Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to consider this aspect as well and submit a comprehensive report in this regard.
6. So, the Greater Chennai Corporation as well as the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board are directed to look into these issues and submit a comprehensive report when they are filing the report as directed by this Tribunal as per order dated 24.06.2021.
7. They are directed to file a report to this Tribunal on or before 26.07.2021 by e-filing in the form of Searchable PDF/OCR Supportable PDF and not in the form of Image PDF along with necessary hardcopies to be produced as per Rules.
8. The Registry is directed to communicate this order along with the copy of the newspaper report published in The Time of India dated 30.06.2021 to the Greater Chennai Corporation as well as to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board by e-mail immediately for their information and also for compliance of the directions.
9. For consideration of report, post on 26.07.2021.
Sd/-
...................................J.M. (Justice K. Ramakrishnan) Sd/-
...............................E.M. (Dr. K. Satyagopal) O.A. No.130/2021, 02ndJuly, 2021. Mn.
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