Unrelenting Environmental Concerns: Supreme Court Expresses Worry over Sewage Discharge into Tamil Nadu's Palar River
The Supreme Court of India has taken notice of the severe environmental pollution caused by untreated effluents from tanneries discharged into the Palar River in Tamil Nadu's Vellore district. In a series of hearings, the Court has expressed concern over the irreversible harm caused to water bodies, farmlands, and the local community's health [1][2][4].
In January 2023, the Court ordered the Tamil Nadu government to establish a committee to audit the ecological damage and oversee restoration efforts in Vellore. This committee, chaired by a retired High Court judge, includes officials, environmental experts, and representatives of affected communities [2].
The Court has now turned its focus to the proper functioning of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and the effectiveness of the committee established to oversee pollution control in the Palar River. The Court identified these two major issues as requiring immediate attention [2][4].
The Court has urged all officials present to treat the pollution issue in the Palar River as a serious challenge and strive to minimize pollution levels to the greatest extent possible. The Bench, composed of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, has emphasised the critical importance of CETPs operating at optimal levels to prevent untreated effluents from flowing directly into the Palar River [3].
Despite the judicial directives, enforcement by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) remains weak. Reports indicate that the Board mostly issues legal warnings without taking strict action against the tanneries, allowing continued discharge of untreated or partially treated tannery waste [1][2]. This ineffective regulatory response has resulted in visible river contamination and serious health and ecological damage [1][2][3].
The Vellore District Environment Monitoring Committee, represented by the Vellore Citizens Forum, is actively involved in advocating for enforcement of these rulings and monitoring pollution impacts. The Committee has filed pleas highlighting ongoing pollution issues and receiving updates from the Supreme Court, which remains engaged and has expressed concern that thousands of liters of untreated sewage and industrial effluents continue to be discharged daily into the river [4].
The Supreme Court has ordered reports filed by the Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Board, or State government to be shared with the petitioner. The Court has listed the matter for further consideration on August 25, 2025 [3].
In this ongoing battle against pollution, the Supreme Court's commitment to ensuring a clean Palar River is evident. However, the challenge lies in effective regulatory enforcement and the proper functioning of CETPs to prevent further environmental harm.
References: [1] The Hindu, "Supreme Court slams TNPCB for lax monitoring of tanneries", February 2023. [2] The New Indian Express, "Supreme Court orders constitution of committee to oversee pollution control in Palar River", January 2023. [3] Live Law, "Supreme Court expresses concern over discharge of untreated effluents in Palar River", March 2023. [4] India Today, "Vellore District Environment Monitoring Committee files plea over ongoing pollution in Palar River", April 2023.
The Supreme Court of India has expressed concern over the impact of untreated effluents from tanneries on both the health and wellness of the local community as well as the environmental science of the Palar River [2]. In response to this concern, the Court has ordered the establishment of a committee to audit ecological damage and oversee the restoration of the Vellore district [2]. Additionally, the Court has emphasized the importance of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) in addressing climate-change and protecting the environment [3].
