NGT issues warrant to Kovai corporation head

Chennai: Taking strong exception to Coimbatore corporation commissioner for failing to appear twice before it, the southern bench of National Green Tribunal on Monday issued bailable warrant against him in connection with the Vellalore dumping yard case.

The bench comprising Justice P. Jyothimani and expert member P.S. Rao had ordered the commissioner, K. Vijayakarthikeyan to appear on Monday, on account of the allegedly unauthorised functioning of the dumpyard in Vellalore.
The court was responding to petitions filed by two Coimbatore residents – K.S. Mohan and Easwaran.

Located at ward 99 of Coimbatore municipal corporation, the dump yard is a clear violation of various environmental norms including Solid Waste Management rules, 2016 for not processing the waste, Air act 1955, for causing pollution in burning waste and Water (Prevention and control of pollution) act 1974, for contaminating the groundwater.

The yard received no clearance under Environmental Impact assessment, said sources. Locals complain of bad stench that emanates from the dump yard each day, causing perilous respiratory problems.

“Quality of our lives are highly compromised,” J Daniel Jesudass, a civic activist and an active campaigner against the dumpyard told Deccan Chronicle.
The dumping yard has become a serious problem for residents and students from four schools for the last 15 years.

“Groundwater has turned pale yellow in the radius of a kilometer. People using the water have developed gross skin diseases and respiratory problems,” said Daniel.

While the corporation is embracing zero waste techniques in ward 23, it is an unanswered question of why the same is not adopted elsewhere. Coimbatore corporation has a tie up with a private company, Integrated Waste Management – to compost the waste. “Apart from selling recyclables, the company is not even close to segregating the waste,” said Daniel. Efforts to contact the corporation commissioner went in vain.