Tamil Nadu gets another month to report on Sembakkam lake

When the matter came up for hearing before judicial member Justice R Ramakrishnan and expert member Saibal Dasgupta through the video conference, counsel for Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board submitted that the inspection was conducted on March 7 and prayed time for filing the report.

“Superintending Engineer of PWD, Chengalpattu, who is the nodal officer, has to coordinate the report with other committee members and file it. Due to the present COVID-19 pandemic, all officials are engaged in the essential service of protecting the people of the locality,” said the counsel.

As inspection was conducted, they can submit an interim report about the present status and action plan to protect the lake before the next hearing, he added. Noting that counsels for the Corporation and the State authorities could not get their connection through video conference, the bench said, “We are unable to get their remarks in this aspect. Under such circumstances, we feel it appropriate to allow them to submit their report. The State Monitoring Committee was also directed to file the report but no report has been received from them as well regarding the present status of implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, in that area.”

Granting one more month to file the reports, the bench posted the matter for hearing on June 8. 

The issue pertains to the petition filed by Sri Sarvamangala Nagar Residents Association regarding the dumping of waste into the lake. The tribunal constituted a joint committee comprising Chengalpattu Collector, TNSPCB, PWD and Commissioner of Municipal Administration and Commissioners of Sembakkam, Tambaram and Pallavaram Municipalities and an official from Chitlapakkam panchayat on February 2.