The New Indian Express 29.09.2010
Solid waste unit: Corporation to go by NEAA fiat
CHENNAI: Rajesh Lakhoni, Chennai Corporation Commissioner who had earlier rubbished the claim that National Environmental Appellate Authority (NEAA), New Delhi, had passed an order to stop the ongoing work at Perungudi solid waste facility on Tuesday said, “We will abide by the written order of the judgement; we so far have not received a copy of the order.” He also defended his earlier statement, “Our lawyer didn’t communicate it to us. So we didn’t know about the order.”The petition was filed by V Srinivasan of Save Pallikaranai Marshland Forum. Ritwick Dutta, counsel for the petitioner, presented evidence that the dumping ground was located close to marshlands, and within 10 km of the Guindy Park. The latter fact had been concealed by the Corporation in its submissions, and the State Environmental Appraisal Committee failed to take cognizance of this. The NEAA, which passed an order on September 24 in this regard said the work be kept in abeyance till the next date of hearing. The next date of hearing is fixed on October 20.
