Plea to shift garbage dump from jumbo corridor

A division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice M Sundar while noting that the green tribunal was already seized of the issue directed the petitioner to move an impleading petition in the case. The bench also made a request to the tribunal to dispose the case as the petitioner had raised strong apprehension of elephant attack arising out of the dumping of garbage. 

The petitioner K Pitchai had contended that Gudalur Municipality, which had failed to obtain authorization under the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 for solid waste processing, treatment or disposal facility have started dumping solid waste collected from 21 wards, which worked out to 19 metric tonnes per day. 

He further submitted that the waste is being dumped without proper segregation and treatment in a one-acre plot on the elephant corridor resulting in the garbage attracting elephants. But the plastic and medical waste being dumped along with the garbage has even caused elephant deaths, the petitioner said.

The petitioner also contended that despite the Green Tribunal offering several directions to the Municipality to arrange a permanent place and to remove all the waste dumped at the site, nothing concrete has emerged. The plea also sought for a direction to the Gudalur Municipality to shift the dump yard to Padanthurai or to some other place.