HC orders TNPCB to inspect polluting firm

MADURAI: The Madras high court Madurai bench on Wednesday directed the member secretary of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to conduct a field inspection at a factory, which has been alleged of environment degradation in a public interest litigation filed here.
One R Raja (50) of Trichy had approached the court six months ago, stating that factory namely Bunge India Pvt Ltd produces vanaspathi etc, using dangerous chemicals in the production process.Effluents from the factory are dumped in and around the unit situated near Edamalaipattipudur village in Trichy. Koriyaru river, which runs behind the factory campus is also under threat, the petitioner claimed.
It is recalled that when the matter had come up for hearing on March 11 after several adjournments, the court directed to implead the pollution control board in the case. Accordingly, the member secretary of the TNPCB was added.
When the matter came up for hearing before the division bench of justices V Ramasubramanian and V M Velumani, the division bench directed the member secretary of TNPCB to conduct an inspection at the factory and to file a report and adjourned the matter.