Tribunal on its own motion Suo Motu based on the News Chennai Supplementary “Mixing of Sewage in Rain Water Drain Canal – Action Requested” Versus The District Collector

Coram: Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. Ramakrishnan, Judicial Member Hon’ble Dr. K. Satyagopal, Expert Member
Keywords: environmental compensation, waste, sewage, rainwater,
Decision: Disposed
Date: 12.07.2021
A case based on a newspaper report published in the Dinamalar Newspaper, Chennai Supplementary was registered. The report alleged that large scale dumping of waste was being done in the storm water drain in Nallappa Srinivasa Street, Chrompet, leading to chocking of drain and resulting in large scale stagnation of drain water. It was also alleged that untreated sewage was being mixed with the public drain, affecting the health of the people.
The matter was adjourned several times and was taken up on June 10, 2020. The Tribunal considered the report submitted by the Joint Committee signed on June 5, 2020, and directed the committee to submit a further report regarding the allegations against the violators, including imposition of environmental compensation and comprehensive steps taken for remedying the situation permanently.
According to the Joint Committee report, when they inspected the area again on June 14 and 19, 2021, there was no discharge of sewage from the residences in the area in question. The erring houses in Nallapa Street situated on the banks of the Canal were imposed with a fine, and discharge outlets were closed. However, it was noticed that a number of residences were letting out the sullage water into the rainwater drain canal leading to Sembakkam Lake from Srinivasa Nagar, Haridosspuram, Raman Street, Vivekananda Street up to the confluence point of Sembakkam Eri.
The third respondent submitted the latest report, which stated that they had identified the persons in the areas mentioned in the further report and notices had been issued to the said houses to stop discharge into the canal. They completed plugging of drain water in those areas on June 30, 2021, and imposed a fine of Rs. 500. The residents were also directed to connect their sewage pipelines to the Under Ground Sewage System (UGSS) of the Pallvapuram Municipality. The Municipal Health Section was directed to remove the waste and garbage from the canal, which was completed on July 2, 2021.
Since the grievance raised in the newspaper report had been redressed, the Tribunal disposed of the case with the following directions:
 (i) The various reports submitted by the Pallavaram Municipality, Chitlapakkam Town Panchayat, and the Joint Committee report were recorded and accepted.
(ii) The Pallavaram Municipality and Chitlapakkam Town Panchayat were directed to ensure that no untreated sewage from the residences were discharged into the storm water drain, which ultimately reached the Sembakkam Eri.
(iii) The two bodies were directed to take steps to connect the sewage line from the residences to the Under Ground Sewage System (UGSS) and take appropriate action against those residents who were not complying with the directions issued by them to connect the sewage line to the UGSS provided by them in accordance with the law.
(iv) The Chitlapakkam Town Panchayat and the Pallavaram Municipality were directed to carry out the cleaning and desilting of the storm water drain periodically to avoid chocking of water overflowing into the streets and stagnation there during the monsoon, causing health hazards in the future, as complained of in the newspaper report.
(v) The District Collector, Chengalpattu District, was directed to ensure that no such complaints were forthcoming in the future from the public by directing the Pallavaram Municipality and Chitlapakkam Town Panchayat to carry out the maintenance work and avoid chocking of storm water drain with garbage and other waste and also discharge of untreated sewage water into the storm water