Chennai: The Madras high court has allowed the state government to construct sewage treatment plant nearby Kottuveerampalayam and RMP Nagar at Sathyamangalam in Erode district.
The First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose disposed of a Public Interest Litigation filed by Lakshmanan, which sought a direction to the authorities to shift the Sewerage Treatment Plant from Kottuveerampalayam and RMP Nagar at Sathyamangalam taluk in Erode district to an appropriate place, thereby water source of the Bhavani river is not affected and to take all precautionary measures before discharging the effluents in any water sources.
The bench said the permission for the installation of the plant was obtained from the state pollution control board. But even then the authorities shall see to that the plants do not emit foul smell or the smell of pesticide.
The authorities concerned shall also take preventive measures to avoid health hazards to the people living in and around the area of the plants. If needed even fumigation has to be done, the bench added.
According to petitioner, the government in order to safeguard the ground water table in and around Sathyamangalam village and also to protect the water resource in Bhavani Sagar river proposed to construct a Septage Treatment Plant.
To implement the said scheme, the government started construction to put up a waste water treatment plant and sewerage station. The said plant was coming up at places nearby Kottuveerampalayam, Ayyappan temple, which were inhabited by a large number of people.
The construction of the said treatment plant in such densely populated areas was contrary to the rules and regulations contemplated by the Centre. The release of poisonous and harmful gases and bacteria such as coliform and Pathogen emitted from the plant will pose great hazard to the health and well being of the people in and around the village, he added.
