CHENNAI: A PIL petition has been filed in the Madras High Court to take steps on a war-footing to control air and water pollution in all slum areas in the City.The first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice A Selvam, before which the PIL from Global Warming Environment Protection Society, filed by its president Swami Govinda Ramanuja Dasa of Sriperumbudur came up for hearing on Monday, ordered notice to the State and the Centre, returnable by April 16.
According to petitioner, air pollution created breathing problems and caused tuberculosis (TB), mostly in the slum areas. The emissions from industries and heavy vehicles are the main cause of air pollution. Industrial and human wastes, which mix with the waterbodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and wells polluted the ground water, which is mostly used for drinking purposes.
As per the 2002 audit reports submitted after conducting inspections in 23 States in India, air pollution was caused by industrial and vehicular emissions. Poor implementation and monitoring of Air Pollution Control Act led to increase in pollution levels.The 2008 audit report found weakness in the execution of policies regarding waste reduction/recycling/re-use and lack of disposal of all kinds of waste and poor compliance of the relevant rules, petitioner said.