Thoothukudi water contamination: Stay sought on report

The division bench comprising R Subbaiah and R Pongiappan before whom the plea came up on Tuesday ordered notice to the Centre returnable by September 24.

The state through its environment secretary had contended that the Union ministry of water resources without informing the state had chosen to commission a study and obtain a report from the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in Thoothukudi, which does not appear to be made on any scientific basis.

Noting that the report is motivated and has been prepared only to prejudice the Government and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), the plea claimed that the report is vague and without any support of empirical data.

The plea further submitted that even as normalcy was returning to Thoothukudi district, the introduction of such a report could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the district.

It may be noted that the state chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan wrote to the Centre saying the study was biased in favour of Sterlite Copper Plant.

On May 28, the Tamil Nadu government ordered the closure of sterlite plant following protests that the plant was polluting groundwater as it was hazardous for the environment. In the protests, as many as 13 people were killed in police firing.