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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
NGT seeks inspection records of all cracker units in Virudhunagar
CHENNAI: The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has come down heavily on the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) and the Tamil Nadu government, directing them to submit detailed inspection records of all firecracker manufacturing units in Virudhunagar from the last five years. The directive comes amid a spate of fatal accidents at cracker units. The NGT bench termed the recurring deaths a result of 'systemic regulatory failure' and expressed concern over non-compliance with safety norms. The rising deaths year after year points to gaps in enforcement, the bench comprising judicial member Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member K Satyagopal observed, as PESO and state counsels pointed fingers at each other. The PESO counsel admitted to widespread violations, including illegal sub-licensing and the prohibited use of mobile phones inside factory premises - a clear violation of Rule 10(6) of the Explosives Rules, 2008, which bans ignition sources like mobile phones and radios within 15 metres of areas where explosives are stored or handled. So far, PESO has cancelled the licences of 10 units and suspended several others. However, the casualty data remains grim. In 2022, 18 people were killed in cracker unit accidents - 12 in PESO-licensed units and six in units licensed by the district magistrate. The toll rose to 39 in 2023, with 35 deaths reported from PESO units. This year alone, 43 deaths have already been recorded, 42 of them in PESO-supervised units.
New Indian Express
26-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
NGT seeks plan to clear wetlands off charru mussels
CHENNAI: The southern bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed concern over the state government's sluggish progress in addressing the invasive charru mussel infestation in the Ennore-Pulicat wetland, a critical ecosystem supporting thousands of fishermen. Two years after the issue was raised, the tribunal questioned the state's commitment to restoring these ecologically vital waters. When the case came up for hearing on Wednesday, the NGT bench, comprising judicial member Justice Pushpa Satyanarayana and expert member K Satyagopal, posted the case for the second week of August and sought a clear roadmap for removal of charru mussels. Charru mussel, a South American invasive species, has wreaked havoc in Ennore Creek, Pulicat lake, and Kosasthalaiyar backwaters, displacing native bivalves like yellow clams and green mussels, and disrupting prawn behaviour. Local fishermen report a thick layer of foul-smelling excrement covering the lake bed, threatening their livelihood. The state Wetland Authority filed a report outlining ongoing efforts, but Water Resource Department is asking for a Rs 20.85 crore to dredge 2.2 km in Kattupalli and Puzhuthivakkam and had approached Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and Tangedco for funding. When the case was first filed by Ennore resident S Kumaresan in 2023, the invasive mussel species spread was observed in a 7 km stretch, but as per latest estimate the spread is noticed on a 24km stretch, which could further steeply increase the WRD's estimate manifold. M Magesh Nagarajan, superintending engineer (WRD), Palar Basin Circle, said dredging activities in the Athipattu village on a 1.7 km stretch located near the NCTPS bridge along the Kosasthalaiyar backwater are currently under way.
New Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
NGT directs TNPCB to publish dos & don'ts before Ganesh festival'
CHENNAI: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a directive to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), mandating a public announcement of penalties for environmental guideline violations during the forthcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festivities. The bench, comprising judicial member Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member K Satyagopal, has directed TNPCB to initiate a public awareness campaign within one week and publish 'dos and don'ts' and penalty details by June 30. This intervention follows mounting concerns over the persistent use of plaster of paris (PoP) idols, synthetically painted idols, and the lack of eco-friendly immersion practices – factors identified as major polluters of waterbodies. Though the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) guidelines have banned PoP since 2010 —and strengthened them in the 2020 revision —implementation has remained problematic, especially in urban coastal zones. The TNPCB counsel said it had cracked down on several unauthorised manufacturing units and sealed them. However, the violations have persisted. In Chennai alone, clean-up drives following last year's festival had removed approximately 150 metric tonnes of idol fragments and waste from beaches at Pattinapakkam, Kasimedu, Palavakkam and others. The NGT bench recognised that while religious sentiments have to be respected, they 'must not come at the cost of environmental integrity'. It said that the festival 'is not being curbed; the pollution is'. The tribunal also questioned why TNPCB was hesitant in the implementation of upfront 'polluter-pays' fee, which was suggested by the tribunal since early 2024. The TNPCB has resisted, citing legal complexity and religious sensitivity, though the NGT has reiterated this fee is essential to ensure clean-up costs are met by celebrants.
New Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
NGT takes cognisance of illegal beach buildings on Tamil Nadu's Karikattukuppam beach
CHENNAI: The Southern Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of illegal building constructions violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules at Old Karikattukuppam beach in Chengalpattu. The tribunal issued notices to departments concerned, seeking an action taken report by June 17. Based on a report by TNIE, the bench, comprising judicial member Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member K Satyagopal, sharply criticised the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA) for failing to exercise its authority under the CRZ Notification and Environment Protection Act to curb these unauthorised constructions. Justice Sathyanarayana noted the NGT's Western Bench had ordered demolitions in a similar case. Satyagopal pointed out that the coastal management authority's current member secretary, AR Rahul Nadh, had previously served as Chengalpattu collector, where CRZ violations have persisted for years without meaningful action. In April, TNIE reported how land sharks were encroaching upon Chengalpattu's beaches, prompting the Mamallapuram Local Planning Authority to issue notices confirming CRZ violations. These notices mandated restoration of the site to its original state through demolition or alteration within 15 days of receipt. Non-compliance would lead to authorities undertaking demolition, with costs recovered from property owners, and the premises could be locked and sealed. The notices also required halting the use of the buildings within the same period.
New Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
NGT takes cognisance of illegal beach buildings on Tamil Nadu's c
CHENNAI: The Southern Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of illegal building constructions violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules at Old Karikattukuppam beach in Chengalpattu. The tribunal issued notices to departments concerned, seeking an action taken report by June 17. Based on a report by TNIE, the bench, comprising judicial member Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member K Satyagopal, sharply criticised the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA) for failing to exercise its authority under the CRZ Notification and Environment Protection Act to curb these unauthorised constructions. Justice Sathyanarayana noted the NGT's Western Bench had ordered demolitions in a similar case. Satyagopal pointed out that the coastal management authority's current member secretary, AR Rahul Nadh, had previously served as Chengalpattu collector, where CRZ violations have persisted for years without meaningful action. In April, TNIE reported how land sharks were encroaching upon Chengalpattu's beaches, prompting the Mamallapuram Local Planning Authority to issue notices confirming CRZ violations. These notices mandated restoration of the site to its original state through demolition or alteration within 15 days of receipt. Non-compliance would lead to authorities undertaking demolition, with costs recovered from property owners, and the premises could be locked and sealed. The notices also required halting the use of the buildings within the same period.
