The National Green Tribunal has issued a notice to the Coimbatore District Collector following a fire at the Vellalore dumpsite, which has been a recurring issue every summer, affecting local air quality.
Coimbatore: A significant fire incident at Vellalore’s 650-acre waste dumpsite, managed by the Coimbatore City Corporation, has drawn the attention of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The fire, which started on April 6 and burned for three days, covered 10 acres, with tons of waste material being consumed by the flames. This incident led to the issuance of a notice from the NGT to the Coimbatore District Collector, Kranthi Kumar Pati.
The dumpsite, receiving annually the city’s waste, is notorious for its recurrent fire incidents during the summer months, posing serious environmental and health concerns for the nearby residential areas. Over a thousand residents from more than ten villages around the dumpsite, including Mahalingapuram, Konavaikkalpalayam, and Vellalore, frequently suffer from poor air quality resulting from the smoke.
In recent developments, based on the incidents reported at the dumpsite, the NGT independently registered a case against the ongoing practice of waste dumping in Vellalore. It was noted that despite previous orders to halt waste dumping operations, local authorities have continued their activities, violating environmental regulations.
Moreover, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board, Coimbatore City Corporation, and Coimbatore District Collector have been sent notices by the NGT, requiring them to respond within four weeks. The case is scheduled for a hearing on May 28 at the Southern Zone Green Tribunal in Chennai.
The dumpsite, receiving annually the city’s waste, is notorious for its recurrent fire incidents during the summer months, posing serious environmental and health concerns for the nearby residential areas. Over a thousand residents from more than ten villages around the dumpsite, including Mahalingapuram, Konavaikkalpalayam, and Vellalore, frequently suffer from poor air quality resulting from the smoke.
In recent developments, based on the incidents reported at the dumpsite, the NGT independently registered a case against the ongoing practice of waste dumping in Vellalore. It was noted that despite previous orders to halt waste dumping operations, local authorities have continued their activities, violating environmental regulations.
Moreover, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board, Coimbatore City Corporation, and Coimbatore District Collector have been sent notices by the NGT, requiring them to respond within four weeks. The case is scheduled for a hearing on May 28 at the Southern Zone Green Tribunal in Chennai.