National Green Tribunal
Rathinasamy vs District Collector on 16 February, 2023
Author: K. Satyagopal
Bench: K. Satyagopal
Item No.07:-
BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI
(Through Video Conference)
Original Application No. 74 of 2022(SZ) &
I.A. No. 192 of 2022(SZ)
IN THE MATTER OF:
T. Rathnasamy,
Tiruppur District.
...Applicant(s)
Versus
The District Collector,
Tiruppur District & Ors.
...Respondent(s)
Date of hearing: 16.02.2023.
CORAM:
HON'BLE Smt. JUSTICE PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, JUDICIAL MEMBER
HON'BLE Dr. SATYAGOPAL KORLAPATI, EXPERT MEMBER
For Applicant(s): Mr. D. R. Arun Kumar.
For Respondent(s): Dr. D. Shanmuganathan for R1 to R3.
Ms. Aarti represented Mr. Sai Sathya Jith for R4.
Mr. Siva Sankar for R5.
M/s. Sarvabhauman Associates for R6.
Mr. Senthil Kumaran for R7.
M/s. S. Sathya Narayana, V. Subramanian &
R. Narayanan for R8.
M/s. S. Akila for R9.
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ORDER
Tamil
1. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has filed its report. The report of the Pollution Control Board is more focused on the 5 th respondent wherein, it is stated that the approach road is to be laid to connect the main mud road on the western side.
2. In this regard, it is to be seen that as it is the applicant had added a total of five private respondents who are all involved in stone crushing. The only grievance of the applicant is that there should be a proper road laid with tar and concrete and sprayed with water to mitigate pollution.
3. A site plan which was produced by the 5th respondent shows that besides him, several other quarries are being operated in the very same region and all of them are using the same road to approach either the Dindigul - Pollachi By-Pass Road or the Palani - Udumalpet Road.
4. Admittedly, none of these approach roads are laid with tar topping or even concrete roads. This is coming under Madathukulam Taluk of Myvadi Village in Tiruppur District. The 5th respondent has also pointed out the resolution passed by the Myvadi Panchayat wherein, it is resolved to lay a Pakka Road. From the above resolution also, it is evident that the said area does not have a Pakka Road.
5. In this regard, we would like to state that when there are several of the units involved in stone crushing, which is one of the raw material for laying tar roads, the Panchayat also can mobilize these Page 2 of 3 quarry owners and make them contribute and lay the road which should be to the benefit of not only the quarry operators but also to the entire village which would ultimately save the environment.
6. In this regard, we direct the Revenue Divisional Officer - Udumalpet to coordinate with the local panchayat viz., Myvadi Panchayat, the concerned Panchayat Union and the quarry operators concerned either they are made a party to this application or not and involve them in the process of laying a tar road.
7. We also expect all the quarry and crushing units around that area to cooperate in this regard, which would give a final solution to the environmental problem.
8. It is also made clear that the Mines and Geology Department or even the State Pollution Control Board while granting permissions to the quarry operations or crushing operations, will bear in mind to insist that the approach roads are laid in tar or concretized before the commencement of the operations.
9. Post the matter on 24.03.2023.
Sd/-
Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, JM Sd/-
Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati, EM O.A. No. 74/2022(SZ) & I.A. No. 192/2022(SZ) 16th February 2023. AD.
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