CHENNAI: Officials from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) have sealed a private launderer BJ Expo Private Limited in Vellanur, Avadi, for functioning without any form of government approval and for polluting the groundwater in the area.
According to a statement by the Villivakkam panchayat union, representatives of the local body and TNPCB inspected the premises on September 9 and found the private launder functioning for three years without trade licences, building plan approval, health permit, fire safety approval and TNPCB clearance.
The statement also said that the firm that laundered linen and gowns used in Vellanur Government Hospital did not have a proper sewage disposal mechanism in place, thereby polluting the groundwater and increasing the risk of communicable diseases in the area.
The firm also did not acquire permission from the local body for groundwater extraction, which was allegedly used to wash the hospital linen. The statement said that the authorities had earlier asked the firm to submit the required documents and warned them of action under sections 159 and 160 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act.