The National Green Tribunal – Southern Bench has directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to inspect the sewage disposal mechanism at three abattoirs run by the Chennai Corporation, in Saidapet, Villivakkam and Pulianthope.
The Bench, comprising judicial member M. Chockalingam and expert member P.S. Rao, was hearing a petition by Arun Prasanna, founder, People for Cattle in India. He had claimed that all the three abattoirs were illegal as per the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board norms.
Govt. submits report
On Tuesday, Abdul Saleem, special government pleader, submitted a report.
He stated that the consent to operate the slaughterhouses at Saidapet and Villivakkam was obtained on April 29.
The effluent treatment plants (ETP) in these two abattoirs were also operational; hence no waste was being released into river Adyar or outside the abattoirs.
However, the ETP was not operational in Pulianthope slaughterhouse as a case pertaining to its modernisation was pending in the Supreme Court. Hence the effluent is collected in lorries and taken to Metrowater’s treatment plant in Kodungaiyur, the report said.
The Bench directed the TNPCB to inspect whether these claims were true.
The Chennai Corporation has also been asked to seek the Supreme Court’s permission for revamping the Pulinathope ETP, as the temporary measure of transportation of wastes could not be permitted in the long-term.
The report also stated that a total of 3,720 cases were booked for illegal transportation of animals from 2013 till March this year.
The case has been adjourned to May 28.
