ary Water Rosources Department, Socrotariat, Chonnal-9. From Dr Sandeep Saxena, LA Additional Chiet Secrotary to Government Yo The Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Coimbatore Region Coimbatore (with enclosure) Sir, Sub: National Green Tribunal- OA.No.164/2017 (SZ) - Filed by Thiru.M,Dhamotharan, Tiruppur - Pollution of Nanjarayan lake, Tiruppur - Regarding Ref; Orders of the National Green Tribunal (SZ) in O.A.No.164/2017, dated 28.09.2021, 29.10.2021 and 23.11.2021 'am directed to enclose the action taken report to be filed in O.A.No.164/2017 before the National Green Tribunal, Southern Zone in compliance of the orders dated 28.09.2021, 29.10.2021 and 23.11.2021 2. In this regard, | am directed to request you to file the above report before the Nalional Green Tribunal by e-filing as directed. Yours faithfully, She mt : Hea for Additional Chie’ Secretary to Government Scanned with GamScannerBEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI Original Application No. 164 of 2017 (SZ) IN THE MATTER OF; M. Dhamotharan Son of Marappan 3/38, Gate Thottam Mannarai Tiruppur ~ 641 607 «Applicant Versus The Secretary to Government Environment and Forest Department Government of Tamil Nadu Secretariat, Fort St. George Chennai and others Respondent ACTION TAKEN REPORT FILED BY ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT | Dr.Sandeep Saxena, |.A.S., aged 55, Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources Department hereby submit the Action Taken Report as follows In Compliance of the orders of this Hon'ble Tribunal, the Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Chennai, had constituted a Joint Committee comprising the following officials 1._| Dr. K. VijayaKarthikeyan, District Collector, Tiruppur 2. | Smt. H.D. Varalaxmi, Sc. E/ AD, CPCB, Bengaluru jame and designation of the Officer Scanned with CamScannerTaN, 664 PM 3 K.Senthivinayagam, DEE, TNPCH, Tuppur, North | Member 4. Asi 8. / Shi. Sivakumar, Commissioner, Municipal | Member __ | Corporation, liruppur 6 [Er V Damouharan, Dr. T. Rajesh, Scientist, CSIR = NI S. Mathava Kumar, Associate Prof, Fr., PWD, Erode Member ERI, Chennai Member ecullve annugam, DEE, TNPCB, Truppur, South | Momber | iT, Chennal_| Member Based on the orders of this Honourable Tribunal, Dated 28.09.2021, 29.10.2021 and 23.11.2021 the following Action taken report is submitted. It is respectfully submitted that this Honourable Tribunal Is seized of the issue relating to removal of encroachment from Nallaru odai and to make the lake free from any polluted water. Series of directions were issued for restoring the dysfunctional Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) by the Water Resources Department. It is respectfully submitted that the Sarkar Periyapalayam Tank (Nanjarayan Lake) is located in Sarkar Periyapalayam Village in Uthukul Taluk, Tirupur District. The ‘Nallaru odai is feeding the Sarkarperiyapalayam Tank. This tank is under the maintenance of Water Resources Department. It is, with regret submitted that dyeing factories in the upstream side of the tank discharge their untreated effluents into the Nallaru odai, which flows into the tank. Further, the Sewaye Water of n =18mossagePan=0.3 7 1 goo cmv rebeogblieonFegrGtVeq"GEeIFAVWAZNOWaTI eR Scanned with CamScannerthe Tirupur Corporation also mixes with the tank through this Nallaru odai and as a result, it creates water pollution and other health hazards to the public living in the locality, It is respectfully submitted that the TDS value of the impounded tank water was high in the range of about 2500 to 3200, which makes the water unsuitable for agriculture. The Ayacutdars belonging to the tank are badly affected due to this problem. As a measure of solving this perennial issue, the Government had sanctioned Rs.4.00 crore from the “Environment Protection and Renewable Energy Fund” during the year 2014-2015 vide 6.0. No. 80, Environment and Forest (EC2) Department dated 10.09.2014. Based on the Government order, during March 2015, to restore the tank in good condition, work relating to installation of a _ Sewage treatment plant of 1.5 MLD capacity, desilting the salt laden soil from the tank bed, diversion channel to divert the polluted water from the diversion weir to the treatment plant, reconstruction of sluices etc., were undertaken. It is respectfully submitted that the sewage treatment plant in Sarkar periyapalayam Tank is designed in such a way that the waste water from the Nallaru odai is diverted through a baby canal and then enters into the STP, having a capacity of 1.5 MLD for treatment. The ‘Scanned with CamScannerSarkar Periyapalayam tank, The excess waste water, if any, is diverted through the baby canal located along the periphery tank and let into the downstream side without entering the Sarkar Periyapalayam tank, | is respectfully submitted that the proposal to handover the treatment plant to the Tirupur City Municipal Corporation is under the consideration of the Government, in Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department. It is humbly submitted that this Honourable Tribunal, in the order dated 10.06.2021, directed the Water Resources Department to take up steps for revamping the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) without any further delay and to operate the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) so as to reduce the organic pollutants in the Nallaru odai and to divert the treated water into the lake. "itis humbly submitted that the inflow of 1.6 MLD into the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is found to be predominantly industrial (dyeing) effluent rather than domestic sewage. Since the plant is designed for treating only domestic sewage, it is incapable of treating the industrial effluent. Therefore, even if the plant is operational, the Water Resources Department cannot take over the plant for maintenance. It is felt that the plant needs upgraded to treat both industrial effluence and domestic sewage. In this context, a meeting was convened by the District vie ‘Scanned with CamScannerCollector, Tipur on 26,07 2021 and instructions were issued to the Tirupur Clty Municipal Corporation to take over the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) from the Waler Resources Department, Based on such instructions, a combined Inspection was made by the Commissioner, Tirupur City Municipal Corporation along with the officials of Water Resources Department and the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) consultants on 30.07.2021. A meeting was also conducted to specifically explore the possibilty of re-designing the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) for its current inflow in the baby canal. It was ascertained that due to urbanization of outskirls in and around Tirupur City Municipal Corporation, the prevailing inflow in the baby canal gets increased and as such, 10 MLD capacity of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is required. Therefore, it was insisted that the existing Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) should be upgraded to 10 MLD capacity from 1.5 MLD for accommodating the current inflow from Nallaru odai. Accordingly, an estimate was prepared by the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) Consultant on 31.08.2021, and the Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department, Lower Bhavani Basin Division, Erode has sent the proposal to the Commissioner, Tiupur City Municipal Corporation for upgrading the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) which works out to Rs.4.20 crore. The Commissioner, Tirupur City Municipal Corporation ‘Scanned with CamScannerGe haw addronsed tho Executive Engineer, Waler Resources Department to fo-submil he proposal as it has some discrepancies, Further, it is respectfully submitted that periodical meetings are boing conducted among officials of the Water Resources Department, Pollution Control Board, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) consultants in co- ordination with the District Collector an this subject. The Pollution Control Board officials are also monitoring various dying units located in the District in order (o strictly comply with the pollution control norms. Lis respectfully submitted that preventing the untreated effluent from mixing in the lake are the main focus entrusted with the Pollution Control Board of the District. As per the report of the Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, itis submitted that none of the Dyeing or Bleaching unit located on the upstream side of the Nanjarayan lake is directly discharging treated or untreated effluent into the Nallar odai, However, during the inspection of the committee constituted in the Olo. District Environmental Engineer, Tiruppur North for filing report to the Hon'ble National Green Tribunal, it is observed that some of the washing and small printing units located on the upstream side of the Nanjarayan lake are not operating the Effluent Treatment Plant property allar odai, and discharging effluent in to the small drains leading to Scanned with CamScanner7 Action is being Laken fo closo 11 stich units through District Coordination Committee by Distict Environmental Engineer, Tiruppur North, Wis respectively submitted that the Pollution Control Board has also been advised to adhere to polluter pay principfe/norms as enunciated by the Honourable Supreme Court in various cases relating to environmental pollution. Unless the dying units are prevented or prohibited from letting out the untreated effluents into the lake, the issue relating to cleansing the lake cannot be sorted out. The Government, in its vatious efforts and interventions, are resorting to zero-tolerance in this matter, The various orders issued by this Honourable Tribunal are periodically implemented. There were several meetings and/or review meetings periodically conducted and all the concerned wings of the Government are taking out all efforts to ensure that the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is made functional soon. Once the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is operational, the issue will no longer survive for consideration of this Honourable Tribunal. At the same time, the issue involved in this case requires a longer period and it is assured that all the elated departments of the Government are wholly and fully involved in ensuring compliance of the various orders passed by this ‘Honourable Tribunal. Water ites Ssvrotatist. Channel ‘Scanned with CamScanner-o. Vis therefore humbly prayed thal this Honourable National Green Tribunal may be planed to 4 Pt this report and to grant adequate time {or reporting the operationalization of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) before this Honourable Nationa Green Tribunal and pass further suitable orders and thus render justice, VERIFICATION |, Dr.Sandeep Saxena, LAS., Slo, late Krishna Gopal Saxena, Hindu, aged about 55, residing at 2/632-8, Narmada Street, 4” Main Road, River view enclave, Manapakkam, Chennai and do hereby declare that the aforesaid facts are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and information Solemnly affirmed at Chennai on this the day of December, BEFORE ME 2021 and signed his name in my presence. . ‘Scanned with CamScanner