Copyright thehindu
The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday took suo motu cognisance of a thick layer of foam that covered Pattinapakkam beach on October 22. The Bench, comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Prashant Gargava, initiated proceedings based on media reports on the incident. Justice Sathyanarayana noted that as per news reports, during earlier occurrences, investigations by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) found that phosphate concentrations were found to be significantly high. The standing counsel for the Tamil Nadu government informed the Bench that such incidents were not regular and did not occur after every rainfall. However, Justice Sathyanarayana stressed that the matter warranted attention even if it occurred sporadically. The counsel for the TNPCB identified sewage discharge as the larger underlying issue contributing to foam formation. The Bench also observed that several photographs circulating online showed residents and children playing in the foam, indicating a lack of public awareness of its potential health risks and ecological impact. The Bench added the State government, Water Resources Department, TNPCB, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, and Greater Chennai Corporation as respondents, and directed them to submit their reports before January 19.
