Stop burning of garbage at waste dumping yard: Madras HC

The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam, directed the Advocate General to immediately get instructions from the state Pollution Control Board (PCB) and city corporation, and issued the interim injunction.

Directing the city mayor and PCB to file counter affidavits in response to the petition by June 27, the Bench said that in the meantime, further burning of garbage in Pallikaranai should be halted with immediate effect.

The Bench also directed advocate V Karthick to assist the court in the matter.

Petitioner S Vishwanathan had contended that burning of garbage in various places in the state, particularly in Pallikaranai, has become a very serious issue as it has caused lung diseases in inhabitants of surrounding areas.

He had also sought a direction to the government to constitute a committee that would study the issue and file a report before the Court with a view to protect the city's people and its ecology from pollution, pending disposal of the petition.

The petitioner pointed out that about 120 tons of garbage was daily being dumped from nearby areas at Pallikaranai, though it formed a main part of the city.

He also claimed that dumping of inflammable material and chemical substances was taking a heavy toll on the environment.