TNPCB asked to investigate abandoned quarry in Mudalipalayam-Nallur under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has asked the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to investigate the abandoned quarry in Mudalipalayam-Nallur, in response to a public petition complaining of dumping of solid wastes by Tiruppur Corporation and seeking declaration of the location as a polluted zone.

Referring to the petition submitted on January 21, the CPCB letter sought the investigation of the quarry in accordance with the Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules (EPMCS Rules, 2025), notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

The TNPCB is required to convey the current status and Action Taken Report within a week.

The public grievance petition seeking direct intervention by CPCB was registered by P. Velusamy of Kenganaicken Palayam.

In an acknowledgement to a similar representation made earlier, the CPCB had, on January 2, stated that the their grievance had been forwarded to TNPCB for action under Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. The latest letter by CPCB to TNPCB followed the contention expressed by Mr. Velusamy that there was scientific basis for dealing with the issue under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the EPMCS Rules, 2025.

The petition presented evidences of dumping of unsegregated municipal waste, and industry wastes including dyeing effluents, chemical sludge and garment industry residues from Tiruppur textile clusters over the last decade.

The laboratory report stated that the TDS (Total Dissolved Solid) count was 1,20,050 mg per litre. Hexavalent chromium in the sample was determined at 9.51 mg per litre, which was 9,510 times higher. Likewise the levels of lead, nickel, boron, phenols, nitrates and nitrites were far above permissible levels. The groundwater and leachate contamination was well beyond response levels under Schedule – 1 of the Contaminated Sites Rules, 2025, the petition said.

The CPCB’s direct intervention is essential since the TNPCB continues to categorise the issue under Solid Waste Management, and the Tiruppur Corporation was proposing further waste facilities inside the same contaminated quarry, the petition said.

The Mudalipalayam-Nallur quarry area should be declared as ‘Contaminated Site’ under Rule 4(9). Until remediation is complete, no new waste facility, change in land use, or any land transaction or registration must be prohibited.

The Tiruppur Corporation must be held responsible for the contamination under Rule 5, and remediation and environmental compensation proceedings must be initiated, Mr. Velusamy emphasised.