Disposed

Dhenupuri Housing Colony, Kannadasan Avenue, Seethalakshmi Nagar Welfare Association, a Registered Society, Rep by Its President, D.Ravi v. the Secretary, State Urban Development Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu

NGT6 Apr 2026Original Application No. 17/2017

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The Tribunal closed an original application concerning the Madambakkam Lake after reviewing a status report confirming compliance with previous restoration and pollution control directions, while directing continued monitoring.

What did the court decide?

No further orders required; application closed but authorities directed to remain vigilant and undertake continuous monitoring.

Dhenupuri Housing Colony, Kannadasan Avenue… — Environment and Pollution | NGT (2026)

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Item No.8:-

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BEFORE THE NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL SOUTHERN ZONE, CHENNAI

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Monday, the 06^th day of April, 2026.

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[Through Physical Hearing (Hybrid Option)]

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Original Application No.17 of 2017 (SZ)

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IN THE MATTER OF:

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Dhenupuri Housing Colony, Kannadasan Avenue, Seethalakshmi

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Nagar Welfare Association

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Registered Society rep. by its President D. Ravi, No.5, Kannadasan Avenue, Madambakkam,

Chennai – 600 0126.

…Applicant(s)

Versus

1. The Secretary

State Urban Development Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Fort St. George, Chennai – 600 009.

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2. The Commissioner

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Municipal Administration & Water Supply Department, Chepauk,

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Chennai – 600 009.

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3. The Director of Town Panchayat Chepauk,

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Chennai – 600 005.

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4. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board Rep. by its Chairman, Guindy,

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Chennai – 600 032.

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5. The Superintending Engineer

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Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur Circle, TWAD Board, “A” Block, No.I, Second Floor, Alandur Municipality Super Bazar Complex, New Street, Alandur,

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Chennai – 600 016.

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6. The District Collector

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Chengalpattu District, Chengalpattu – 603 001.

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7. The District Environmental Engineer Kancheepuram District, Kancheepuram – 631 501.

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8. The Revenue Divisional Officer Tambaram

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Chennai – 600 045.

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Page 1 of 4

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9. Madambakkam Town Panchayat Rep. by its Executive Officer, Madambakkam, Chennai – 600 126.

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10. Tambaram City Municipal Corporation

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Rep. by its Commissioner, No.1, Muthuranga Mudali Street, Tambaram West, Chennai – 600 045.

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…Respondent(s)

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For Applicant(s): None. For Respondent(s): Dr. D. Shanmuganathan for R1 to R3, R6 & R8. Mr. S. Sai Sathya Jith for R4 & R7. Mr. P. Srinivas for R10.

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CORAM :

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HON’BLE Smt. JUSTICE PUSHPA SATHYANARAYANA, JUDICIAL MEMBER HON’BLE Dr. PRASHANT GARGAVA, EXPERT MEMBER

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J U D G M E N T

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Delivered by Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, Judicial Member

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1. The above-captioned Original Application No.17 of 2017 (SZ) was disposed of by this Tribunal vide judgment dated 25.04.2022, wherein comprehensive directions were issued to the respondent authorities for protection and restoration of the water body and for ensuring compliance with the applicable environmental norms. The relevant portion of the directions issued by this Tribunal in O.A. No.17 of 2017 (SZ) are usefully reproduced below:

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“ (i) The Commissioner, Tambaram City Municipal

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Corporation within whose jurisdiction now the Madambakkam Panchayat area comes to strictly implement the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and to take steps to manage the liquid waste generated in that area and avoid discharge of untreated sewage into the Sitheri or the Thangal Eri or any other water body in that area.

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(ii) The Commissioner, Tambaram City Municipal Corporation is directed to take steps to dispose of the legacy waste in accordance with law by taking steps for disposing the same by bio-mining and even after removing the waste, they are directed to conduct further study regarding the soil condition and if any, further remediation is to be done, they are directed to carry out the same as well to make the area free from pollution or anticipated contamination.

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(iii) The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board is directed to monitor the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in that area and implement the directions of the Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal, New Delhi in O.A. No. 606 of 2018 and take steps to recover the compensation and also take further action against the erring officials as has

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Page 2 of 4

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been observed by this Bench in the order dated 20.02.2022 in O.A. No. 273 of 2017.

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(iv) The Water Resources Department (WRD) is directed to ascertain as to whether there are any encroachments into the water bodies in that area and if there is any encroachment, they are directed to take steps to remove the encroachment as has been insisted by the Hon'ble High Court of Madras and also by this Tribunal in several cases in accordance with law and to take permanent steps to protect the water body against future pollution and encroachment as well.

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(v) The Additional Chief Secretary for Municipal Administration and Water Supply, the Additional Chief Secretary for Environment Forests and Climate Change and also the Chief Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu are directed to monitor the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 within this area and to take appropriate action against those officers who are not strictly implementing the same as has been directed by this Tribunal as per order dated 20.02.2022 in O.A. No. 273 of 2017. ”

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2. Thereafter, based on a news item published in the Tamil Daily namely, Dinakaran dated 25.07.2024, alleging pollution of Madambakkam Lake due to dumping of garbage, disposal of animal by-products, discharge of sewage from nearby residential areas, and encroachments in the lake, this Tribunal took suo motu cognizance of the issue and directed the concerned authorities to submit an action taken report.

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3. Pursuant thereto, the Commissioner, Tambaram

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City Municipal Corporation , has filed a status report dated 04.04.2026 , stating that that the site relating to Madambakkam Thangal Eri/Sitheri, comprised in Survey No.643, was inspected and it was found that the water body has been fully restored and is free from encroachments either by the Corporation or by any private individuals.

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4. With regard to the location of the Micro Composting Centre (MCC), the report states that the facility established for processing wet waste is situated within the burial ground in Survey No.646, approximately 100 metres away from Thangal Eri, and that the said land is classified as Meikal Poromboke .

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5. As regards sewage management, it is reported that sewage generated from the surrounding residential houses is discharged only into individual septic tanks and is periodically collected through registered sewage tankers for disposal at the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) maintained by the Tambaram City Municipal Corporation at West Tambaram.

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Page 3 of 4

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6. Insofar as solid waste management is concerned, the report states that the locality is covered under the Corporation's Solid Waste Management system and that regular collection, transportation and scientific disposal of municipal solid waste are being undertaken. It is further stated that there is no accumulation or dumping of solid waste in the area in question.

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7. From the above report, it is seen that appropriate remedial measures have been undertaken in compliance with the directions already issued by this Tribunal while disposing of the Original Application and that the issues highlighted in the news report have been suitably addressed.

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8. In view of the above, this Tribunal is of the considered opinion that no further orders are required to be passed in the present proceedings. The Tribunal had already issued detailed directions while disposing of the Original Application, and the respondent authorities have taken appropriate action in compliance therewith. Therefore, nothing further survives for adjudication in the present proceedings.

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9. However, considering the importance of protecting water bodies and maintaining environmental standards, the respondent authorities are directed to remain vigilant and to undertake continuous monitoring of the area so as to prevent any recurrence of dumping of solid waste, discharge of untreated sewage, encroachments, or any other activity detrimental to the ecology of the water body. The authorities shall also ensure sustained compliance with the applicable environmental laws and the directions already issued by this Tribunal.

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10. Accordingly, the Original Application [O.A. No.17 of 2017 (SZ)] is closed.

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Sd/-

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Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, JM

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Sd/Dr. Prashant Gargava, EM

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O.A. No.17/2017 (SZ) 06^th April, 2026. AK.

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Page 4 of 4

Dhenupuri Housing Colony, Kannadasan Avenue, Seethalakshmi Nagar Welfare Association, a Registered Society, Rep by Its President, D.Ravi v. the Secretary, State Urban Development Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Dhenupuri Housing Colony, Kannadasan Avenue, Seethalakshmi Nagar Welfare Association, a Registered Society, Rep by Its President, D.Ravi v. the Secretary, State Urban Development Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

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