Chennai: The national green tribunal’s (NGT’s) southern bench stalled on Thursday work on the bio-methanation plant and landfill in Kayalpatnam town of Thoothukudi district as the project lacks necessary approvals and violates the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) and municipal solid waste (MSW) rules. The second bench, comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member R. Nagendran, ordered the Kayalpatnam municipality and the contractor to maintain status quo as on date until further orders.
Earlier, petitioners M. Paul Rose and M. Senthamil Selvan filed a writ petition before the Madurai bench of the Madras high court. The bech dismissed the petition on May 13, suggesting that the petitioners approach the NGT for remedy. Counsel for the petitioners submitted before the NGT that Kayalpatnam municipality has flouted tenders and issued work order for the bio-methanation plant without obtaining consent to establish (CTE) from the Tamil Nadu pollution control board (TNPCB). It also submitted that the site is located in an ecologically sensitive area just 30 metres from the Thamiraparani river estuary, and within 500 metres of the sea, close to the high tide line (HTL) and as such falls within the CRZ. In fact, a road to the site would require to be built in the CRZ-1 area.
Mr Mohammed Salih, a local activist from Kayalpatnam, said TNPCB district environmental engineer has rejected the proposal for setting up a landfill yard on the site twice. “So, award of a contract and tender by the municipal authorities is illegal. Without consent to establish under the Water and Air Act, no activity can be undertaken at the site. The municipal authorities have also not obtained environmental clearance under the EIA Notification, 2006, which is mandatory.”
