Gudiyatham Residents vs District Collector - Solid Waste to Electricity Project

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Gudiyatham Thamgam Nagar Residents ... vs The District Collector on 25 March, 2026

Item No.04:-

           BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
                SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI

               [Through Physical Hearing (Hybrid Option)]

             Original Application No.243 of 2025 (SZ)

IN THE MATTER OF:

 Gudiyatham Thangam Nagar Residents
 Welfare Association,
 Gudiyatham.
                                                             ...Applicant(s)
                                     Versus

 The District Collector,
 Vellore District and ors.
                                                            ...Respondent(s)

 Date of hearing: 25.03.2026.

CORAM:

HON'BLE Smt. JUSTICE PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, JUDICIAL MEMBER

HON'BLE DR. PRASHANT GARGAVA, EXPERT MEMBER

 For Applicant(s):           Mr. T.N. Rajagopalan.

 For Respondent(s):          Ms. Kavia Tamilmozhi represented
                             Dr. D. Shanmuganathan for R1, R3 & R4.
                             Mrs. Vivekha Pon represented
                             Mr. S. Sai Sathya Jith for R2.
                             Mr. Purushothaman represented
                             Mr. P. Srinivas for R5.

                                Page 1 of 3
                          ORDER 1.   This application was filed complaining that the

Gudiyatham Municipality is setting up a conversion of solid waste
to electricity project even without obtaining consent. The
applicant had produced the relevant information obtained under
the RTI, wherein the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board
(TNPCB) had stated that the Municipality had not obtained the
consent till 09.09.2025, when the reply was given. Hence, the
TNPCB was directed to inspect the site and file a report.

1. Today, the learned counsel appearing for the TNPCB
   would submit that the report is ready and the same has not been
   uploaded. However, it is stated by the learned counsel that as on
   date, no Consent to Establish (CTE) has been issued to the Project
   Proponent and under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection)
   Act, 1986, directions were issued to the Municipality to follow the
   Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.

2. Surprisingly, the TNPCB has not asked them to stop
   the work nor has the Municipality has taken the responsibility to
   stop the work till they get appropriate consent from the TNPCB.

3. It is also stated that only after the above application is
   filed, the Project Proponent had applied for CTE on 12.03.2026,
   which is also for the bio-gas plant and it is said to be under
   consideration. If that is so, the 5th Respondent viz., the
   Gudiyatham Municipality cannot proceed with the work as on
   date. Hence, we direct the Municipality to stop the work

   forthwith and it is open to them to continue as and when they
   obtain the CTE from the TNPCB.

4. In this context, we direct the TNPCB to inform all the
   

   municipalities and the other local authorities' in-charge of
   managing the solid waste to strictly follow the Solid Waste
   Management Rules, 2026, which is coming into effect from
   01.04.2026.

5. To be noted is that in the event the Municipality
   

   continues to operate without consent, they will be liable for the
   payment of environmental compensation, which should be very
   strictly viewed.

6. Post the matter on 22.06.2026.
   

Sd/-

Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, JM

                                                          Sd/-

Dr. Prashant Gargava, EM

O.A. No.243/2025 (SZ)
25th March, 2026. AD.