Halt ops until obtaining consent, NGT tells Namakkal poultry farm

CHENNAI: The Southern Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed a Namakkal based poultry farm to halt the operation until obtaining consent from State Pollution Control Board (SPCB). Further, the owner of the farm has also been directed to adhere to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines.

The bench comprising Justice K Ramakrishnan and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati hearing the case observed that Saraswathy Vellappan, running a poultry farm since 1990 at Rasipuram in Namakkal district is liable to obtain consent for running poultry farm atleast from January 2021.

However, the owner has failed to follow the directions of Principal Bench, New Delhi and subjected to several violations of environmental laws.

According to the application, due to the poultry farm, the groundwater in the area has been drastically reduced and polluted, making it unfit for drinking purposes. Further, the unused antibiotics and other medicines given to the chicken are indiscriminately dumped, leading to land pollution and health hazards, noted the application.

The Tribunal disposing the case directed the CPCB to form guidelines on providing greenbelt in the area within next six months. Till then, SPCB in consultation with Veterinary department can evolve a temporary measure of providing greenbelt and what species of plants can be grown at poultry farms, which will ensure safety of birds.

Subsequently, SPCB is also directed to consider the availability of groundwater, as Namakkal district was notified as over-exploited area by government notification, while also fix the quality of water drawn from the well. Additionally, steps should also be taken to prevent groundwater depletion, noted the Tribunal.