Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board had issued notices to nearly 150 brick kilns following the High Court's intervention in the illegal sand mining at Thadagam.
Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board had issued notices to nearly 141 brick kilns following the High Court's intervention in the illegal sand mining at Thadagam.
The High Court bench consisting of Justice J. Sathyanarayanan and Seshasayee ordered various Government Departments including Geology and Mines, Pollution Control Board, Electricity Board and Labour Department to conduct field visits on Thadagam brick kilns and submit a report. The writ filed by Chinna MGR alias Rajendran against the brick kilns in Thadagam came up for hearing on October 17 and the Court ordered the Government Departments to file a report after a field visit.
The judges postponed the hearing to a later date combining the petition with a case filed by one Murali of chennai on the same issue. The officials were given time to conduct a field inspection and file a report on the issue.
Following the High Court order, notices were issued by the Pollution Control Board seeking details about permissions obtained by the brick kilns, according to sources.
Ganesh, an activist working on this case stated that there were no developments since the Pollution Control Board used advanced equipment to monitor pollution levels at Thadagam. “After we escalated this issue, a high-level meeting was conducted at the District Collecterate. After the meeting, a team from Chennai visited last month and used nine equipment to monitor pollution for a few days. There has been no further development and the brick industries continue to operate. After the High Court order, a notice was sent to the industries but they are still operating,” added Ganesh.
Meanwhile, the PMK Youth Wing Secretary, Ashok Srinithi had filed a petition to the District Revenue Officer to take action on the Revenue Department officials who have not acted on his complaint about illegal sand mining. “I have been continuosly fighting against illegal sand mining. I was sent to prison when I tried to file a petition at the Revenue Divisional Office alleging that I tried disrupting Government officials from working. After I came out from prison I have now again sent a petition to DRO to take action against those officials who have not taken action on my petitions,” stated Ashok Srinithi.
Ashok also alleged that he had not received any reply for any of the RTIs he had filed. “I would have filed at least 15 RTIs seeking information on various issues but I have not received any replies, except for one query. But my fight against illegal sand mining and corrupt officials will continue," reiterated Ashok Srinithi.