Item No.2:-

BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI Monday, the 30^th day of June 2025.

[Through Physical Hearing (Hybrid Option)]

Original Application No.41 of 2024 (SZ)

[Earlier O.A. No.788 of 2023 (PB)]

IN THE MATTER OF Tribunal on its own motion Suo Motu based on the news item published in The New Indian Express dt.05.12.2023 titled, “Change location of sewage treatment plant from Coimbatore’s Ukkadam, over

100 residents stage stir”

AND

1) Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board Rep. by its Member Secretary, No.76, Mount Salai, Guindy, Chennai – 600 032. 2) Commissioner Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, Coimbatore – 641 001.

…Respondent(s)

For Applicant (s): Suo Motu.

For Respondent(s): Mr. S. Sai Sathya Jith for R1.

Mr. Najeeb Usman Khan for R2.

Judgment Reserved on: 23^rd June, 2025.

CORAM HON’BLE Smt. JUSTICE PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON’BLE Dr. SATYAGOPAL KORLAPATI, EXPERT MEMBER

J U D G E M E N T

Delivered by Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, Judicial Member

1. This Tribunal took suo motu cognizance of a news item published in The New Indian Express dated 05.12.2023, reporting that residents of Anbu Nagar, Ukkadam, in Coimbatore District, raised complaints of health hazards and foul odour due to the functioning of a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and the adjoining garbage transit facility operated by the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC).

2. The news item indicated that over 100 residents from Ward No.86 staged a protest, symbolically carrying sewage and solid waste to the CCMC head office, demanding relocation of the STP and associated waste facilities situated at Pullukadu, which they alleged caused significant sanitation and health issues.

3. Considering the environmental implications, the Principal Bench of this Tribunal registered the matter as Original Application No.788 of 2023 (PB). The case was subsequently transferred to this Bench and renumbered as Original Application No.41 of 2024 (SZ).

4. Upon notice, the respondents have entered appearance through their counsels and filed their respective pleadings.

5. Respondent No.1 - Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has filed its report dated 03.01.2025, wherein it is stated that the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) currently has 100 wards. The Ukkadam Sewage Treatment Plant, operated by the CCMC since 2011, is located in S.F. Nos.146/2, 3, 147/2 etc., within Ward AP-42, Block No.17, Coimbatore South. The STP, with a total capacity of 70 MLD, presently treats approximately 30–32 MLD of sewage generated from Zones I, II, V, and VI, covering about 24 wards and serving an estimated population of 4.68 lakh. The facility is established on 13.94 Acres and utilizes Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) technology. Out of the 21,101 sanctioned Household Service Connections (HSC), approximately 10,000 are currently connected to the underground sewage network. Treated effluent from the plant is pumped to the Vellalore pond for agricultural purposes.

6. Concerns regarding the STP were further highlighted in The Hindu on 27.01.2024 under the title “Residents grapple with foul odour and contaminated groundwater,” wherein residents of Ward 62 (which includes parts of Ukkadam and Ramanathapuram) expressed their apprehensions over groundwater pollution and persistent odour. In response, the TNPCB conducted inspections of the Ukkadam STP on 09.02.2024 and 27.03.2024. These inspections revealed several deficiencies. It was found that the STP was not operating at full capacity, with operations hampered by the discharge of oil-laden wastewater. Additionally, unauthorized sewage/effluent was being brought in by tanker lorries and discharged at the collection point, leading to untreated or partially treated sewage entering natural watercourses (odai). Further, the plastic waste, fine grits, and bio-sludge were stored within the premises in open areas, contrary to prescribed waste management practices.

7. Following these findings, the TNPCB issued instruct