Environmental authorities have the responsibility to enforce compliance with pollution control laws, especially in cases of public health concerns.

ORDER

1. This original application is registered suo motu on the basis of the news item titled (cid:147)Age-old Channels have become open drains for Discharging raw sewage in Tiruchi(cid:148) appearing in The Hindu dated

25.12.2025.

2. The news item relates to the discharge of sewage into the open drain of Tiruchi in Tamil Nadu posing significant health and environmental risks. As per the article, despite the expansion of the underground sewer network, numerous households and commercial establishments continue to illegally discharge waste into these canals. This practice has resulted in severe pollution, with the Uyyakondan Canal becoming heavily contaminated. The article highlights that in the absence of a proper storm-water drainage network, these open drains serve as the city(cid:146)s primary outlet to carry the rainwater flows to the Cauvery. These drains have been irrigation canals in the past and were handed over to the Corporation for maintenance by the Water Resources Department following rapid urbanisation in recent decades. Most of these canals were more than 20-foot wide, originally but have now drastically shrunk in width. The article further reports that sewage could be seen flowing directly into the canals from pipes put up brazenly at the rear of the houses or small business establishments. Moreover, it is alleged that the flow of sewage poses a health hazard to residents living along the drains. Farmers in the area have reported skin diseases attributed to the use of polluted canal water for irrigation. The situation has been exacerbated by recent heavy rains, causing waterlogging due to clogged drains and highlighting the city’s inadequate stormwater drainage system.

3. The above news item indicates violation of the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 .

4. The news item raises substantial issues relating to compliance of the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment.

5. Power of the Tribunal to take up the matter suo-motu has been recognized by the Hon(cid:146)ble Supreme Court in the matter of (cid:147)Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai vs. Ankita Sinha & Ors.(cid:148) reported in 2021 SCC Online SC 897.

6. Hence, we implead the following as respondents in the matter: (1). Commissioner, Tiruchirappalli City Municipal Corporation, Main Office, Tiruchirappalli City Corporation, Bharathidasan Road, Cantonment, Tiruchirappalli - 620001.

(2). Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, No.76, Mount Salai, Guindy, Chennai - 600032.

(3). Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board, Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, Delhi - 110032.

(4). Regional Officer, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Regional Office (Southern Zone), 1st & 2nd Floor, HEPC Building, No.34, Cathedral Garden Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai (cid:150) 600034.

(5). District Collector (District Magistrate), Tiruchirappalli, District Collector Office, Tiruchirappalli (cid:150) 620 001.

7. Issue notice to the above respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit before the Southern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing. If any respondent directly files the reply without routing it through his advocate, then the said respondent will remain virtually present to assist the Tribunal.

8. Since the matter falls within the jurisdiction of Southern Zonal Bench of the Tribunal, therefore, the OA is transferred to the Southern Zonal Bench, Chennai for appropriate further action. Let the original record of the OA be transferred to Southern Zonal Benc