Plea to prevent discharge of sewage into Uyyakondan canal

The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to file a report to a public interest litigation petition complaining about the discharge of sewage into Uyyakondan canal.

A Division Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and B. Pugalendhi issued the direction while hearing the petition filed by J. Kennedy of Tiruchi district.

The petitioner said that over the past few decades, Uyyakondan canal has been subjected to heavy urban pollution. Sewage water from many commercial and residential buildings were being let out directly into Uyyakondan canal.

He said Tiruchi Corporation had accepted that sewage was getting discharged into Uyyakondan canal at 32 places and measures were being taken to prevent it. But sources have indicated that the actual number of such locations may be higher than the official reports. The 32 identified locations do not include wastewater flowing from individual buildings, he said.

He sought a direction to the authorities to prevent the flow of sewage, untreated liquid wastes and drainage into Uyyakondan canal.

He also sought a direction to the authorities to identify and block such pipelines and outlets which were directly letting waste into Uyyakondan canal.

Further, he sought a direction to the authorities to frame appropriate measures for treating the sewage water before being discharged into Uyyakondan canal and ensure that that the canal was maintained free from pollution.