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National Green Tribunal

News Item Titled Sea Of Toxic Foam In ... vs Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board ... on 21 August, 2025

Item Nos.07 & 08:-

             BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
                  SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI

                      [Through Physical Hearing (Hybrid Option)]


                 Original Application No.14 of 2025 (SZ)
                         [Earlier O.A. No.1374/2024 (PB)]
                                   With
                 Original Application No. 111 of 2020 (SZ)


IN THE MATTER OF:

     Tribunal on its own motion SUO MOTU
     based on the news item in NDTV.com
     dt.05.12.2024 titled "Sea of Toxic after dam
     discharge surplus water"

                                            And

     Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board
     Through its Member Secretary,
     Chennai and Ors.
                                                                   ...Respondent(s)

                                           With

     Tribunal on its own motion Suo Motu based
     on the news item in Tamil Newspaper
     Dinamalar Chennai Edition dt. 13.07.2020,
     "Frothing of Chemical Foam in the River
     Thenpennai"

                                            And

     The Principal Secretary to Government,
     Public Works Department,
     Chennai & Ors.

                                                                   ...Respondent(s)

                                     Page 1 of 4
       Date of hearing: 21.08.2025.


CORAM:


HON'BLE Smt. JUSTICE PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, JUDICIAL MEMBER

HON'BLE Dr. AFROZ AHMAD, EXPERT MEMBER


O.A. No.14/2025(SZ):
        For Applicant(s):      Suo Motu.

         For Respondent(s):    Mr. S. Sai Sathya Jith for R1.
                               Mr. D.S. Ekambaram for R2.
                               Mr. R. Thirunavukarasu for R3.
                               Dr. D. Shanmuganathan for R4, R5, R7.
                               Mr. Rajat Jonathan Shaw represented
                               Mr. Darpan K.M. for R6.

O.A. No.111/2020(SZ):
        For Applicant(s):      Suo Motu.


        For Respondent(s):     Dr. D. Shanmuganathan for R1, R2, R4 & R7.
                               Mr. Rajat Jonathan Shaw represented
                               Mr. Darpan K.M. for R3.
                               Mr. S. Sai Sathya Jith for R5.
                               Ms. P.G. Shamala represented
                               Mr. M.R. Gokul Krishnan for R6.



                                     ORDER

1. The report dated 20.08.2025 of the Chief Secretary, State of Karnataka, regarding their action taken pursuant to the order passed in O.A. No.111 of 2020(SZ) dated 28.06.2021 is filed.

2. The said action taken report details the action taken by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board against the polluting industries, the Real Time Monitoring System and the results of the Real Time Monitoring System.

3. The action taken by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) regarding the sewage generated in the river catchment area is also mentioned. As per the same, the existing 16 STPs of the total installed capacity was 621.5 MLD and the treating capacity was 550 MLD. Presently, the BWSSB is having 26 STPs with a capacity of 958.5 MLD and is treating 830 MLD.

4. It is specifically stated that the total quantity of sewage generated in the Thenpennai River catchment area is 1329 MLD and they are proposed to construct 12 STPs of 225 MLD capacity both in Hebbala and K & C Valley.

5. The timeline indicates that 04 projects are scheduled for completion by the end of December 2025, 06 by the end of December 2026, and 01 by the end of December 2027.

6. As an interim measure, they provided the UGD facilities to Byatarayanapura Bommanahalli & Mahadevapura Zones coming under 110 Villages to a total length of 800 Kms. Besides the interim measures, the long-term measures were undertaken by the BWSSB. It is stated that the core areas of CMC/TMC have a UGD network in a complete manner. Therefore, the sewage from these areas is conveyed out through the piped network.

7. The report further states that, until the STPs are completed and connected to the 30,000 households, the residents are currently relying on their individual soak pits for sewage disposal. However, the continued use of such soak pits without septic tanks requires examination, as they may pose a risk of groundwater contamination in the long run.

8. Accordingly, the Chief Secretary, State of Karnataka, is directed to file a detailed report addressing the recurrence of the toxic foam discharge into the dam, indicating the immediate and strict interim measures being implemented until the long- term remedial measures are fully operational.

9. The State of Tamil Nadu is also directed to monitor the directions already issued by the Joint Committee in O.A. No.111 of 2020(SZ) and join hands with the State of Karnataka in implementing the directions issued and file a report in this regard.

10. Post the matter on 14.11.2025.

Sd/-

Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, JM Sd/-

Dr. Afroz Ahmad, EM O.A. No.14/2025 (SZ) & O.A. No.111/2020(SZ) 21st August, 2025. AD.