Pollution Board Fails To File Report on Water Units
Chennai: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal on Monday pulled up the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for failing to file a comprehensive report on the status of private packaged drinking water units in the state. It threatened to impose fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh on erring officials, if they didn’t submit the report in the next hearing.
In March, the Tribunal initated suo motu proceedings against private drinking water units, after complaints poured in about substandard quality of water being supplied in cans, bottles and sachets. It passed interim orders to close many units in neighbouring districts, when they failed repeatedly in sample tests for human consumption.
The bench, comprising justice M Chokkalingam and expert member R Nagendran directed the board on July 2 to inspect all 997 packaged drinking water units in the state and conduct sample tests with support of the food safety and drug administration department. It ordered the board to submit the report on August 26.
When the case came up for hearing on Monday, the bench found to its dismay thatthe reportwas not ready. “In our previous hearing, we directed the PCB to direct the district environmental engineers to find out units in each district. But there is no such report forthcoming, despite a lapse of three months. If such a report, as called for by the Tribunal, is not placed before the next hearing, we will view the matter seriously,” Justice M Chokkalingam said adding that action would be taken against the officials.
The report, a copy of which is available with TOI, said that of the 144 samples lifted from Ambattur, Chennai, Sriperumbudur and Tiruvallur, 23 samples were foundtobesub-standard and unsafe. In Maraimalai Nagar and Tiruvannamalai, 10 samples were unfit for consumption.
The bench directed the pollution control board member-secretary, H Malleshappa to be present next time. “You should see the seriousness of the issue… water is sold everywhere. How many are with or without consent from the board, we want to know,” it observed.
Advocate M R Gokul Krishnan, appearing for food and drug safety administration said the departmentcould not actindependently in lifting samples. “Only PCB officials can do the job, and food safety officialswill analyzeit,” hesaid. The bench posted the case for further hearing on September 4.
Chennai: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal on Monday pulled up the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for failing to file a comprehensive report on the status of private packaged drinking water units in the state. It threatened to impose fines ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh on erring officials, if they didn’t submit the report in the next hearing.
In March, the Tribunal initated suo motu proceedings against private drinking water units, after complaints poured in about substandard quality of water being supplied in cans, bottles and sachets. It passed interim orders to close many units in neighbouring districts, when they failed repeatedly in sample tests for human consumption.
The bench, comprising justice M Chokkalingam and expert member R Nagendran directed the board on July 2 to inspect all 997 packaged drinking water units in the state and conduct sample tests with support of the food safety and drug administration department. It ordered the board to submit the report on August 26.
When the case came up for hearing on Monday, the bench found to its dismay thatthe reportwas not ready. “In our previous hearing, we directed the PCB to direct the district environmental engineers to find out units in each district. But there is no such report forthcoming, despite a lapse of three months. If such a report, as called for by the Tribunal, is not placed before the next hearing, we will view the matter seriously,” Justice M Chokkalingam said adding that action would be taken against the officials.
The report, a copy of which is available with TOI, said that of the 144 samples lifted from Ambattur, Chennai, Sriperumbudur and Tiruvallur, 23 samples were foundtobesub-standard and unsafe. In Maraimalai Nagar and Tiruvannamalai, 10 samples were unfit for consumption.
The bench directed the pollution control board member-secretary, H Malleshappa to be present next time. “You should see the seriousness of the issue… water is sold everywhere. How many are with or without consent from the board, we want to know,” it observed.
Advocate M R Gokul Krishnan, appearing for food and drug safety administration said the departmentcould not actindependently in lifting samples. “Only PCB officials can do the job, and food safety officialswill analyzeit,” hesaid. The bench posted the case for further hearing on September 4.
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