Case: Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum Vs. Union of India (UOI)

Matters relating to Tanneries in the State of Tamil Nadu 1. Pursuant to this Courts Order dated December 15, 1995. NEERI has submitted Final Examination Report dated February 12, 1996, regarding CETPS constructed/under construction by the Tanneries in various districts of the State of Tamil Nadu. A four member team constituted by the Director, NEERI inspected the CETPS from January 27 to February 12.1996 According to the report, at present, 30 CETPs sites have been identified for tannery clusters in the five districts of Tamil Nadu viz., North Arcot Ambedkar, Erode Periyar, Digdigul Anna, Trichi and Chengai M.G.R. All the 30 CETP were inspected by the Team. According to the report, only 7 CETPs are under operation, while 10 are under construction and 13 are proposed. The following 7 ETPs. are under operation: 1. M/s. TALCO Ranipet Tannery Effluent Treatment Company Ltd. Ranipet, Dist. North Arcot Ambedkar 2. M/s. TALCO Ambur Tannery Effluent Treatment Company Ltd. Thuthipet Sector, Ambur, Dist. North Arcot Ambedkar 3. M/s. TALCO Vaniyambadi Tanners Enviro Control Systems Ltd., Vaniyambattu, Vaniyambadi, Dt. North Arcot Ambedkar. 4. M/s. Pallavaram Tanners Industrial Effluent Treatment Company, Chrompet Area, Dist. Chengai MGR 5. M/s. Ranipet SIDCO Finished Leather Effluent Treatment Company Pvt. Ltd., Ranipet, Dist. North Arcot Ambedkar 6. M/s. TALCO Vaniyambadi Tanners Enviro Control Systems Ltd., Udayendiram, Vaniyambadi. Dist. North Arcot Ambedkar 7. M/s. TALCO Pernambut Tannery Effluent Treatment Company Ltd., Bakkalapalli, Pernambut. Dist. North Arcot Ambedkar. The CETPs mentioned at Sl. Nos. 5, 6 and 7 were commissioned in January 1996 and were on the date of report passing through stabilization period. The report indicates that so far as the above CETPs are concerned, although there is Improvement in the performance, they are still not operating at their optimal level and are not meeting the standards as laid down by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for inland surface water discharge. The NEERI has given various recommendations to be followed by the above mentioned units.

Decision reasoning: 1[ds]The report indicates that so far as the above CETPs are concerned, although there is Improvement in the performance, they are still not operating at their optimal level and are not meeting the standards as laid down by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for inland surface water discharge. The NEERI has given various recommendations to be followed by the above mentioned units.2. Apart from the tanneries which are connected with the above mentioned 7 units, there are large number of other tanneries operating in the 5 districts mentioned above which have not set up any satisfactory pollution control devices.It is mandatory for the tanneries to set up the pollution control Despite notices it has not been done. This Court has been monitoring these matters for the last about 4 years. There is no awakening or realisation to control the pollution which is being generated by these tanneries.3. The NEERI has indicated the physico-chemical characteristics of ground water from dug wells near tannery clusters. According to the report, water samples show that well-waters around the tanneries are unfit for drinking. The report also shows that the quality of water in Palar river down stream from the place where effluent is discharged, is highly polluted.9. There are large number of tanneries in the State of Tamil Nadu which have set up individual pollution control devices and which according to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, are operating satisfactorily. The fact, however, remains that all these tanneries are discharging the treated effluents within the factory precinct itself.