Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Youth Wing Secretary V. Easwaran has moved the National Green Tribunal, Southern Zone, in Chennai seeking orders to shift the Coimbatore Corporation’s dump yard out of Vellalore.
In his petition, he has said that the Corporation had been dumping waste in Vellalore without necessary approval from the authorities concerned. The smoke from the frequent fire accidents at the dump yard and foul odour had troubled the residents who live in and around Vellalore.
Breathing problems
The residents suffered from breathing problems, irritation in the eyes, lung diseases and severe cough. The ground water was polluted, brown and contained components that could seriously compromise health. Such dumping of waste in the manner the Corporation did was a violation of the rights guaranteed under the Constitution.
He had also alleged that the Corporation had not followed the instructions from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, did not furnish reports of fire accidents to the Board and had not initiated safety measures at the dump yard.
And, in violation of rules, medical waste was also to be found in the Vellalore yard.
The residents of the area had carried out protests, fasts, etc. to register their protest but had no relief.
He had cited the District Collector, Corporation Commissioner, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and its District Environmental Engineer, Coimbatore, as respondents.
