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Order of the Madras High Court regarding Amaravathi river pollution, Karur, Tamil Nadu, 02/12/2020

  • 02/12/2020

Order of the Madras High Court (Suo Motu W.P. (MD) No. 17508 of 2020 regarding Amaravathi river pollution dated 02/12/2020.

The matter dealt with discharge of untreated effluents from the dyeing units and other companies into the river Amaravathi - polluting the entire river.

Justice N. Kirubakaran and Justice B. Pugalendhi noted that throughout the country, the industries were polluting the water bodies by letting in untreated industrial effluents. Many of the water bodies were completely polluted and they have become sewage channels.

The court said that the concerned officials were not properly inspecting as to whether the effluent treatment plants were treating the effluents discharged from the industries including dyeing units - whether they were functioning or not and whether the treated effluents alone were discharged into the water bodies.

The Madras High Court directed the Government of Tamil Nadu to submit a response on the following queries:

(i) How many industries/companies are letting the untreated effluents into the water bodies in Karur district [with name and address]?

(ii) What is the available mechanism to verify as to whether the treated effluents or untreated effluents are discharged from the industries? (iii) How many industries are straightaway letting the effluents into the water bodies by digging channels [necessary photographs to be filed]

(iv) What is the action taken in this regard?

(v) Whether Karur Municipality is discharging untreated sewage into the water bodies?

(vi) Why not the State Government amend the relevant provisions of the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 to include the Promoters, Directors, Partners and all connected with the polluting industries, which are polluting the water bodies by letting in untreated industrial sewage into the water bodies?

Further, the Secretary, the District Legal Services Authority, Karur has been directed to inspect the river Amaravathi at Karur and file a report on the factual position with the necessary photographs.