Order of the National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone, Chennai) in the matter of P. Varatharajan Vs Moovarasampet Panchayat & Others dated 11/05/2017 regarding illegal dumping of municipal solid waste in the lake comprised in Survey No.44/2 of Moovarsampet Village, Kancheepuram District, Tamil Nadu. Moovarasampet

Panchayat has stated before the Tribunal in the reply dated 9th November, 2016, that as on date the dumping of garbage in the waterbody has been stopped. It is further stated that the entire Moovarasampet Panchayat is a residential area and there is no vacant or suitable land. Hence, the Panchayat has obtained permission from the Chennai Corporation on 17.07.2013 to dump the solid waste at Perungudi dumping yard. But the Corporation cancelled the permission on 27.04.2016. Therefore, the waste was dumped near the lake bund area by taking precautions for preventing solid waste mixing into the lake water. It is also stated that the Panchayat has approached the District Collector, Kancheepuram to allot suitable place for disposing the waste. The Collector in his order dated 08.08.2016 has identified 30 acres of large extent of land in Keerapakkam in Survey No.99/1, wherein 20 acres have been allotted to Town Panchayats and 10 acres allotted to 9 Village Panchayats of St. Thomas Mount Panchayat Union and a place has been earmarked.