The Madras High Court Bench here on Thursday reserved its order on a plea made by Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko to restrain the Centre from going ahead with the proposed establishment of India based Neutrino Observatory (INO) at West Bodi Hills in Pottipuram of Theni district.
A Division Bench of Justices S. Tamilvanan and V.S. Ravi deferred their decision without mentioning a date after hearing arguments advanced by Mr. Vaiko as a party-in-person, Additional Advocate General K. Chellapandian representing the State government and Assistant Solicitor General G.R. Swaminathan appearing on behalf of the Centre.
Though the petitioner claimed that the project work was on in full swing ever since the Union Cabinet gave its approval for the Rs.1,584-crore project, the ASG contended that the construction work had not begun at the project site except for fencing the land that had been allotted, at the foothills, for the observatory by the State government.
He also submitted that the Centre would not go ahead with the project without obtaining prior sanction from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and other statutory authorities. Stating that sophisticated equipment would be utilised for digging a tunnel to house the observatory under the hills, he claimed that there would not be any damage to the environment or people.
On his part, the AAG said that the State government was laying a road, outside the area allocated for the project, for the benefit of nearby villagers.
He also sought time to file a detailed counter affidavit.
