Rice mills:HC refuses to extend deadline for getting pollution

Surprised over non-compliance of its order even after a lapse of three years by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, the Madras High Court has refused to extend deadline for modern rice mills to obtain pollution clearance certification from the Board.
Stating that the High Court had passed an order in February 2012 and despite a lapse of three years, full compliance of the order had not been ensured, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M M Sundresh rejected on Friday TNPCB's plea for extension of the deadline.
"What is surprising to note is that even though as on date (it is) three years beyond the time period, there is no full compliance,", the bench observed on a PIL by one S Sankaran alleging that a large number of modern rice mills had polluted air and ground water by letting out untreated effluents.

Despite representations to president of Vadagarai village panchayat and TNPCB authorities, nothing worthwhile had been done to contain it, he submitted, adding, steps should be taken to treat wastages and effluents coming from these mills.
On February 15, 2012, the court had directed the mills to comply with the norms by obtaining consent from TNPCB and to install an effluent treatment plants.
The court had also directed TNPCB to inspect all rice mills and take appropriate action in accordance with law. After expiry of initial deadline on July 1, 2012, the court gave further extensions, including the last one in January 2015.

But TNPCB filed an application before the court seeking more time to ensure full compliance of the court orders.
Reacting to the counsel for TNPCB that about 85 per cent of rice mills had already complied with the norms and only small mills are still seeking extension of time to comply with the order, the bench said, "Sufficient time given having elapsed there cannot be any question of further extension in entertaining any application"
It dismissed the TNPCB application with an order that the agency should carry out inspections within one month.