IIT-Madras told to protect blackbuck

Chennai: The southern bench of  National Green Tribunal (NGT), Chennai, has directed Indian Institute of Technology-Madras to protect blackbuck, an endangered species, in its sprawling campus.  

When a petition filed by Antony Clement Rubin, an animal activist, came up for hearing, Judicial Member Justice M.S. Nambiar said  no damage or injury should be caused to any of the endangered species. The animals, including those found in Wild Life Protection Act, should be protected on the campus.

NGT last month had directed IIT-Madras to remove all solid waste dumped in and around the campus. Since blackbuck is an endangered species, if any injury or death was caused to it due to IIT's inaction, the "polluter pays" principles would be invoked against it, the tribunal had said.

The tribunal had also directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to depute a senior officer to inspect the campus and submit a status report on aspects, including the disposal of solid waste.

Last month, the forest department in an affidavit said that due to the presence of solid waste, stray dogs enter the campus and attack deer and blackbucks, causing fatal injuries to them. It sought directions for removal of all solid waste.

TNPCB filed its report on Wednesday  referring to its inspection of the IIT-Madras campus on December 1. It said that IIT-Madras is maintaining records on the collection and disposal of bio-degradable and non-biodegradable municipal solid waste generated in its premises.

The petitioner said 220 deer and eight blackbucks have died since 2014 on the campus. He alleged that inaction on the part of IIT (M) management led to the decline in the number of spotted deer, black bucks and other animals. He sought complete ban on the disposal of solid waste. The tribunal has posted the matter for further hearing to January 24 next year.