The Supreme Court strongly criticised the dumping of untreated sewage into Tamil Nadu’s Palar River, warning of severe consequences if urgent action is not taken. The bench said, “Nature will not spare us,” stressing the need for immediate and strict pollution control.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India on Monday raised a strong alarm over the growing pollution in the Palar River in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore district.
The court expressed serious concern about untreated sewage and industrial waste being dumped directly into the river, warning that such environmental destruction will have dangerous results for people and nature.
A Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan observed that the condition of the Palar River is worsening every day because thousands of litres of sewage are being released into it without treatment.
During the hearing, the bench made a heartfelt remark, saying:
“You all have portrayed a pathetic picture…just imagine—thousands and thousands of liters of sewage being pumped into the river. What must be the state of the river? We are sure that in our country, people still go to the river to fetch water; everybody does not have a water connection. Believe me, nature will not spare us. This is not a lecture; it is coming from the heart.”
The court was hearing a petition related to environmental pollution caused by tanneries that release untreated chemicals and effluents into the Palar River.
These tanneries, located in and around Vellore district, have been blamed for long-term ecological damage, making the water unsafe for drinking, farming, and daily use.
The Supreme Court heard submissions from multiple authorities — including three District Collectors, the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board, and an officer from the Central Pollution Control Board.
The discussion focused on how to ensure full compliance with the court’s earlier order dated January 30.
In that earlier judgment, the court had ordered the formation of a special committee led by a retired High Court judge. The committee was to include senior officials, environmental scientists, and local community representatives.
Its job was to measure the damage caused, create a proper action plan, and supervise restoration work until the harm to the river and surrounding ecosystem is completely repaired.
Reiterating its earlier warning, the bench again stressed,
“Nature will not spare us. This is not a lecture; it is coming from the heart.”
The judges pointed out that two urgent problems need to be fixed immediately — first, the proper working of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), and second, the efficiency of the pollution control committee in taking action.
The CETPs are special facilities meant to treat industrial wastewater before it is released, but many of them are either not working properly or not being used to their full capacity.
The bench gave a clear caution, stating,
“It is important to know how well CETPs are functioning… if CETPs aren’t functioning at their optimal level, then the trade effluents go straight into the river untreated, which is dangerous.”
The court directed that all reports filed by the Central Pollution Control Board, the State Pollution Control Board, or the Tamil Nadu government must be shared with the petitioner.
The petitioner will be allowed to give their response before the next hearing.
The matter has now been listed for further hearing on August 25.
CASE TITLE:
Vellore District Environment Monitoring Committee vs The District Collector, Vellore District & Ors.
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