The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took Suo Motu cognizance of the matter relating to the eruption of a fire at the open dump yard, near the vermicompost centre, located within Vellalore landfill premises in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
The Petition is registered suo-moto on the basis of the news item appearing in the daily newspaper dated 07.04.2024.
As per the news item there is a landfill of about 2 acres which had engulfed in fire and the gravity of situation was such that a force comprising of 15 fire tenders including units from Coimbatore, Erode and Tiruppur district were deployed to combat the flames and over 100 fireman and support personnel were engaged in the firefighting operation.
The news item reflects that over 200 tonnes of legacy waste ablaze at the yard and the nature of mixed waste lying there had raised concern about the release of harmful pollutants in the air and soil.
The news item raises substantial issue relating to compliance of the environmental norms.
“Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter in suo-motu exercise of power has been recognized by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.” reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.”
Hence, the Principal Bench of Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Dr. A Senthil Vel impleaded the following as respondents in the matter:
(i) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), through its Member Secretary
(ii) Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), through its Member Secretary
(iii) Commissioner, Corporation of Coimbatore
(iv) District Collector/District Magistrate, Coimbatore
Since the matter relates to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai , therefore, the Bench transferred the matter to the Southern Zonal Bench , for appropriate further action. Office is directed by the NGT to transfer the original record to the Southern Zonal Bench and the matter is listed on 28.05.2024.