NGT orders urgent action to curb sewage pollution in Korattur, Madambakkam lakes

The confederate seat of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed authorities to instrumentality urgent measures to halt untreated sewage from entering Korattur and Madambakkam lakes, observing that home sewage remains the superior origin of contamination and ecological degradation successful some waterbodies.

In abstracted orders issued connected June 9, the tribunal directed the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), Tambaram City Municipal Corporation, Water Resources Department (WRD), and different agencies to plug sewage outfalls, fortify sewerage infrastructure, reconstruct water ecosystems, and region encroachments.

In the Korattur water case, which was filed by the Korattur Aeri Paadhukaappu Makkal Iyakkam, the Tribunal recovered that untreated sewage from unsewered and inadequately sewered residential areas successful and astir Greater Chennai Corporation’s Zone VII continued to participate the lake.

Water prime analyses revealed elevated levels of contaminants, pointing to persistent sewage pollution. The seat directed the CMWSSB to place and adjacent amerciable sewer connections and discharge points entering the water wrong six months.

It besides ordered the District Collector, WRD, and Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to survey water boundaries and bund areas to place and region encroachments and directed the GCC and WRD to undertake ecological restoration measures, including removal of h2o hyacinth.

While the lawsuit was filed implicit allegations of some sewage and concern pollution, the tribunal noted that caller inspections by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) recovered nary grounds of concern effluent discharge into the lake. It observed that concern units successful the Ambattur Industrial Estate had mostly complied with pollution-control norms. 

The Tribunal besides noted that the TNPCB had imposed biology compensation of ₹5.10 crore connected Aavin for earlier effluent-management violations, and that the dairy had since upgraded its effluent attraction plant.

‘Expedite UGSS’

In the Madambakkam water case, initiated suo motu by the Tribunal, the seat directed the Tambaram City Municipal Corporation to expedite implementation of the Underground Sewerage Scheme (UGSS) and instantly forestall untreated sewage from entering the lake.

Water prime tests showed faecal coliform and full coliform levels exceeding permissible limits, rendering the h2o unfit for drinking and different designated uses. The Tribunal directed the corp to operationalise interception and diversion systems and decentralised sewage attraction plants pending completion of the UGSS, permanently plug sewage outfalls entering the lake, and guarantee due postulation and attraction of wastewater. It besides instructed the TNPCB to undertake periodic monitoring and initiate enactment against violations.

The WRD has been directed to undertake restoration works, including desilting, removal of aquatic weeds and strengthening of water bunds, portion the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) has been tasked to guarantee compliance with biology safeguards successful aboriginal developments astir the lake.