Committee submits report on Girivalam path to NGT

Chennai: The two-member committee formed to study the road-widening project on Girivalam path in Tiruvannamalai submitted its report to the Southern bench of National Green Tribunal on Thursday. The committee comprising retired chief justice, Sampath Kumar and an IFS officer, Dr Sekhare which had carried out two inspections is planning to conduct another one to verify certain aspects regarding the cutting of trees on the stretch 2 and 4.

Along with the high-end committee, Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board and retired hydro engineer, Vishveshwaran, had submitted their reports to the tribunal comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member P.S. Rao. The bench will pass interim orders in November based on the report by the committee and other observations.

‘As Karthigai deepam is observed between  December 2 and 12, the place would be thronged with pilgrims. Hence, we made a submission for an early date for an interim order to avoid the pilgrims’ plight in using the incomplete path,’ said the counsel for the respondent. Tiruvannamalai police department was also asked to  submit the report at the next hearing on the widening project.