Officials from the Loss of Ecology (Prevention and Payment of Compensation) Authority took water and soil samples from Ramapalayam and Welpuram areas in Jadayampalayam and Thekkampatti in Mettupalayam on Wednesday.
In 2002, the villagers and farmers filed a petition before the Madras High Court stating that industrial effluents had polluted the water and soil quality in their villages. The pollution had resulted in water being unfit for human consumption and agriculture. The soil too had become arid. They sought compensation for their livelihood and also for restoration of the water and soil quality.
The petition for the purpose of technical expertise was referred to the Authority by the Madras High Court. The Authority headed by its Chairman P. Baskaran, a retired judge of the Madras High Court, had deputed a team to these villages for picking up water and soil samples.
The team led by Under Secretary B. Jayaraman and Environment Inspectors Jai Ganesh and Ranjan, assisted by revenue officials, and lifted the samples. Preliminary and on-field inspections revealed indications of pollution in water quality while the soil samples were being sent for laboratory examinations.
The findings of the committee would be submitted to the High Court for its orders relating to compensation and directions to the State Government, Mr .Jayaraman told The Hindu .
