National Green Tribunal: S Sumathi vs State Of Tamilnadu

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• Know your Kanoon - Doc Gen Hub - Counter Argument - Case Predict AI - Talk with IK Doc -... Upgrade to Premium [Cites 1, Cited by 0 ] ### National Green Tribunal

S Sumathi vs State Of Tamilnadu on 24 March, 2026

Item No.5:-

          BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL
               SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI

           Tuesday, the 24th day of March 2026.

               [Through Physical Hearing (Hybrid Option)]

          Original Application No.02 of 2025 (SZ)

IN THE MATTER OF

   1. S. Sumathi
      Aged 42 years
      W/o. Late M.K. Suresh
      Edapalayam, Pappankuppam Village,
      S.R. Kandigai Post,
      Gummidipoondi Taluk,
      Thiruvallur District - 601 201.

   2. Aruna
      Aged 47 years
      D/o. Late Thathaiah
      Edapalayam, Pappankuppam Village,
      S.R. Kandigai Post,
      Gummidipoondi Taluk,
      Thiruvallur District - 601 201.

   3. Venkatachalam
      Aged 38 years,
      S/o. M.R. Chengaiah, Edapalayam,
      Pappankuppam Village,
      S.R. Kandigai Post,
      Gummidipoondi Taluk,
      Thiruvallur District - 601 201.

   4. Vijayakumar
      Aged 32 years
      S/o. Late Thathaiah
      Edapalayam, Pappankuppam Village,
      S.R. Kandigai Post,
      Gummidipoondi Taluk,
      Thiruvallur District - 601 201.

   5. Sandiya
      Aged 25 years,
      W/o. Chenjukumar,
      Edapalayam, Pappankuppam Village,
      S.R. Kandigai Post,
      Gummidipoondi Taluk,
      Thiruvallur District - 601 201.

   6. Munirathinam
      Aged 49 years
      S/o. Late Munusamy,
      Edapalayam, Pappankuppam Village,
      S.R. Kandigai Post, Gummidipoondi Taluk,
      Thiruvallur District - 601 201.
                                                            ...Applicant(s)

                              Page 1 of 7
                                        Versus

  1) The State of Tamil Nadu
     Rep. by the Chief Secretary,
     Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.

  2) The State of Tamil Nadu
     Rep. by its Principal Secretary,
     Environment & Forests,
     Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.

  3) Member Secretary
     Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board,
     76, Mount Salai,
     Gunidy, Chennai - 600 032.

  4) The District Collector,
     Collectorate, Thiruvallur District,
     Thiruvallur - 602 001.

  5) The Tahsildar,
     Gummudipoondi Taluk,
     Gummudipoondi,
     Thiruvallur District - 601 201.

  6) The District Environmental Engineer
     Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board,
     Plot No.88a, S [IPC](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1569253/) OT Industrial Complex,
     Gummidipoondi - 601 201,
     Thiruvallur District.

  7) M/s. Emerald Resilient Tyre Manufacturers (P) Ltd.
     Rep. by its Managing Director,
     Plot No.79 and 80, EPIP, S [IPC](https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1569253/) OT
     Industrial Complex,
     Gummidipoondi - 601 201.
                                                       ...Respondent(s)

For Applicant (s):        Mr. G. Suryaprakash & Mr. D. Dayanithi.

For Respondent(s):    Dr. D. Shanmuganathan for R1, R2, R4 & R5.
                      Mr. S. Sai Sathya Jith for R3 & R6.
                      M/s. Shubharanja
ni Anath, M. Dwarkanath
                      & S. Akshaya for R7.

Judgment Reserved on: 20th March, 2026.

CORAM:

HON'BLE Smt. JUSTICE PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, JUDICIAL MEMBER

HON'BLE Dr. PRASHANT GARGAVA, EXPERT MEMBER

                               Page 2 of 7
                   JUDGMENT Delivered by Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, Judicial Member

1. The present Original Application has been filed by the
   

   Applicants, who are agriculturists and residents of Edapalayam
   Village, Pappankuppam Hamlet, Gummidipoondi Taluk, Tiruvallur
   District, aggrieved by the alleged discharge of effluent into nearby
   agricultural lands and emission of air pollutants by M/s. Emerald
   Tyre Manufacturers Limited, situated at S IPC OT Industrial
   Complex, Gummidipoondi, affecting the surrounding environment.

2. The Applicants contend that, despite complaints made
   

   to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and
   inspections conducted by the authorities, no effective action has
   been taken, thereby necessitating the present proceedings.

3. The applicants further alleged that emissions such as
   

   carbon particles, sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen are being
   deposited on water bodies, agricultural lands and residential
   areas, resulting in environmental degradation and suffocation to
   the local residences, as the unit has failed to maintain adequate
   pollution control mechanisms and has not installed an Online
   Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS) connected with
   the CARE AIR Centre.

4. Upon notice, the TNPCB has filed its report dated
   

   14.08.2025 stating that the 7th Respondent's unit has been
   operating with valid Consent to Operate (CTO) issued by TNPCB
   dated 14.11.2024, which was valid up to 31.03.2025 and
   subsequently renewed up to 31.03.2026. The unit has provided
   adequate measures for control of water and air pollution, including
   installation of a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and Air Pollution
   Control systems such as dust collectors and dust extraction
   systems. The sewage generated is treated and reused for
   gardening within the premises and the only trade effluent, namely
   boiler blowdown, is also collected and utilized within the premises.

5. A complaint was received from Mr. Iyyappan on
   

   14.06.2024 alleging that effluent was being discharged from the
   7th Respondent's unit outside its premises, thereby affecting
   nearby agricultural lands. Based on the said complaint, an Page 3 of 7 inspection was conducted on the same day by the District
   Environmental Engineer, TNPCB, during which it was observed
   that gunny bags containing carbon black were dumped outside the
   premises and boiler blowdown water had mixed with the same and
   flowed towards adjacent lands. A sample of the discharged water
   was collected for analysis and a Show Cause Notice dated
   15.06.2024 was issued to the unit for violation of consent
   conditions.

6.    The 7th Respondent, in its reply dated 01.07.2024 to
   

   the show cause notice, has stated, due to continuous rainfall, the
   boiler blowdown water, which is otherwise utilized for gardening
   within the premises, had stagnated and overflowed through a hole
   in the compound wall into nearby agricultural lands. It was further
   stated that the said opening in the compound wall was
   immediately closed and that no effluent has been discharged
   outside the premises thereafter.

7.    It is further stated in the report that, subsequent
   

   inspections confirmed that no effluent was being discharged
   outside the premises. The Report of Analysis dated 01.07.2024
   revealed that the sample water met the standards prescribed by
   the Board. Thereafter, similar complaints were received from Tmt.
   Sumathi and others i.e. applicants herein on 17.07.2024, to which
   a detailed reply was furnished on 18.07.2024 informing that the
   issue had been addressed and the effluent discharge was within
   permissible limits. In view of compliance and satisfactory analysis
   results, further action on the Show Cause Notice was dropped.

8.    Subsequently, the unit was inspected again on
   

   26.11.2024 by the DEE, TNPCB, Gummidipoondi, during which it
   was observed that the unit was in operation; the sewage
   generated was treated in the Sewage Treatment Plant with all
   components functioning; the treated sewage was utilized within
   the premises for gardening; the trade effluent in the form of boiler
   blowdown was collected and utilized within the premises; and all
   air pollution control measures, including dust collectors and dust
   extraction systems, were found to be in operation.

Page 4 of 7 9. It is further stated in the report that again inspection
was carried out on 15.04.2025, during which it was observed that
the unit was operating in compliance with consent conditions; the
Sewage Treatment Plant was fully functional; the boiler blowdown
was collected and reused for gardening; and the air pollution
control measures were in operation and found to be adequate. It
was also observed that the 8 T/hr boiler was in operation with a
dust collector attached to a common stack, while the 4 T/hr boiler
was kept on standby. The stack monitoring results confirmed that
emissions were within the prescribed standards.

1. Upon consideration of the report submitted by the
   TNPCB, this Tribunal finds that the principal allegation of the
   Applicants relates to the discharge of effluent into nearby
   agricultural lands.

2. It is seen from the report that an inspection was
   conducted by the TNPCB on 14.06.2024, pursuant to which a Show
   Cause Notice was issued. The Respondent unit has explained that
   the discharge occurred due to continuous rainfall, resulting in
   boiler blowdown water through a damaged portion of the
   compound wall, which was immediately rectified. The Report of
   Analysis dated 01.07.2024 indicates that the water sample met
   the standards prescribed by TNPCB. Subsequent inspections have
   confirmed that no effluent is being discharged outside the
   premises.

3. In view of the above, this Tribunal is of the opinion
   that the incident was isolated, has been rectified and no continuing
   violation is established.

4. As far as the allegation of air pollution is concerned,
   the Applicants have alleged emission of pollutants affecting the
   environment and public health. However, the TNPCB conducted
   Ambient Air Quality Monitoring on 12.07.2024 at five locations and
   all parameters were found to be within the limits prescribed under
   the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Further, the
   Stack Monitoring results indicate that emissions from the boiler
   and DG sets are within prescribed standards. The unit has also
   provided air pollution control measures such as dust collectors,
   dust extraction systems and stacks. In the absence of any Page 5 of 7 contrary scientific evidence produced by the Applicants, the
   allegation of air pollution cannot be sustained.

5.    With   regard   to    compliance      of   pollution    control
   

   measures, the report of TNPCB indicates that the Sewage
   Treatment Plant is functional, treated sewage is reused within the
   premises, boiler blowdown is also reused and air pollution control
   systems are operational. Inspections conducted by TNPCB on
   multiple occasions have confirmed such compliance. No material
   has been placed before this Tribunal to demonstrate any continued
   violation of the environment by the applicants.

6.    The Applicants have further contended that the unit
   

   has not complied with the directions issued by TNPCB. However,
   the records indicate that a Show Cause Notice was issued, the unit
   submitted its reply, corrective measures were taken and further
   action was dropped based on compliance and satisfactory analysis
   results. Therefore, the contention of continued non-compliance is
   not substantiated.

7.    In view of the above, this Tribunal finds that the unit
   

   is operating with valid consent and has installed necessary
   pollution control measures. The alleged incident of effluent
   discharge was temporary, has been rectified and no continuing
   environmental violation is established. The ambient air quality and
   emission levels are within prescribed standards. The Applicants
   have not produced any scientific or technical evidence to establish
   violation of environmental norms.

8.    However, in order to ensure continued compliance and
   

   to prevent any future environmental violation, the following
   directions are issued:

(i) The unit shall ensure that no effluent is discharged
outside its premises under any circumstances;
(ii) The Sewage Treatment Plant and effluent
management systems shall be continuously
maintained in proper working condition;
(iii) All air pollution control measures shall be operated
efficiently at all times;
Page 6 of 7
(iv) TNPCB shall conduct periodic inspections and
monitoring to ensure compliance with
environmental standards;

(v) If any future violation is noticed, TNPCB shall take
action in accordance with law.
18. With the above observations and directions, the
Original Application [O.A. No.02 of 2025 (SZ)] stands
disposed of.

Sd/-

Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, JM

                                                 Sd/-

Dr. Prashant Gargava, EM

                                                        Internet - Yes/No

                                           All India NGT Reporter - Yes/No

O.A. No.02/2025 (SZ)
24th March, 2026. Mn.

Page 7 of 7