September 07, 2016
Chennai, September 7, 2016: The NGT southern bench passed an interim order today directing the state government to restore access to clean drinking water with immediate effect for villages affected by the SIPCOT estate in Cuddalore. Invoking the Polluter Pays Principle, the tribunal has directed the SIPCOT industries to pay the costs of providing potable water.
Sangolikuppam, Semmankuppam and Eachangadu villages, where the petitioners hail from are among the 21 villages severely affected by the pollution in the industrial area. Samples taken by the board from 11 locations between February 2013 and April 2014 and analysed by SACEM confirmed the presence of heavy metals like cadmium, chromium and lead.
The bench which comprised Justice P Jyothimani and expert member PS Rathe has directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to conduct a new assessment of environmental degradation in and around the industrial estate, and submit a report at the next hearing scheduled for September 29.
Read SACEM report on TNPCB Sample analysis here:
Groundwater Quality in SIPCOT Cuddalore – An Analysis of TNPCB Sample Results of Groundwater