Date:27/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/27/stories/2008042754030400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Court restriction on chemical company

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has restrained a chemical company at Choonambedu in Kancheepuram district from dumping chemical waste outside the leasehold lands.

Passing interim orders on a public interest litigation petition, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice Prabha Sridevan ordered notice to respondents — Chairman, Pollution Control Board; Kancheepuram Collector; Police Superintendent (SP); Deputy Superintendent of Police; and Sri Padma Chemicals Pvt.Ltd., Villipakkam Devasthanam Bungalow, Choonambedu — returnable by June 9.

In his petition, K. Umanath of Thothacherry village in Choonambedu post said the chemical company was licensed to manufacture only cooking salt.

But, it manufactured cooking salt to a minimum extent and chemical salt to the maximum extent. Its sister concern, Ampamp Alkalies Ltd., functioning at Kalapatty in Puducherry, was regularly engaged in bringing and dumping chemical waste at Thothacherry.

The petitioner submitted that besides his village, nearby villages would be affected due to contaminated water. He had sent representations to the SP, Collector and the Chairman of the Pollution Control Board, but they did not take any action.

Interim injunction

He prayed for an interim injunction restraining the company from carrying on its business.