NGT seeks report on encroachments, sewage outflow into Velachery lake

The tribunal took suo moto cognizance over a media report that untreated sewage from Kakkan Palam, Ambedkar Nagar, 100 Feet Road, Raj Bhavan drain was being discharged into the lake, which contaminated the water. The report alleged that the groundwater quality in the nearby areas was affected because of this, adding that no action was taken despite complaints from the people.

Judicial member Justice K Ramakrishnan and expert member Saibal Dasgupta said, “Going through the allegation of complaints regarding health hazards, it requires the intervention of this tribunal. It seems from the report that the lake was originally having an extent of 256.48 acres which has been subsequently reduced to 55 acres due to encroachment.”

To get a factual report from the authorities regarding the steps taken to remove the encroachments, if any, the nature of encroachment and complaint of discharge of untreated effluents into the lake, the bench constituted a committee comprising Chennai Collector, and officials from TNPCB, Greater Chennai Corporation, PWD and Water Resources Organisation, Velachery, to inspect the area and submit a status report within two months. In a similar case, the tribunal took suo moto cognizance of a media report that said septage waste was being mixed in storm water drain in Ward 12 of Pallavaram Municipality. The report alleged that the authorities failed to take action though complaints were given. The bench constituted a committee comprising district Collector of Chengalpattu, Commissioner of Pallavaram Municipality and senior official of TNSPCB to inspect the area and submit a report within a month.