It asks company to carry out a fresh cumulative assessment study

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi, has suspended the environment clearance (EC) granted by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for the proposed coal-based thermal power plant of IL& FS Tamil Nadu Power Company Ltd in Cuddalore district. The tribunal directed the company to carry out a cumulative assessment study afresh within a radius of 25 km from the project site and submit it to the MoEF for stipulating any additional conditions and safeguards required for the protection and preservation of the Pichavaram mangroves and marine environment.

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) suspended clearance to a 3,600 MW project of IL&FS Tamil Nadu Power Company Ltd in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, ordering a cumulative impact assessment before the clearance is reactivated even though the laws do not require such a study.

West Bengal has the highest number of red category industries causing high pollution, followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, while 43 industrial clusters have been identified as “critically polluted”, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

The Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Ms Jayanthi Natarajan, said during Question Hour that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and IIT-Delhi had conducted a survey based on Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) for assessment of pollution load of industrial areas.

CHENNAI: PWD Minister K V Ramalingam on Thursday said that as per the existing agreement, Karnataka could not construct a new dam across Thenpennai river without the consent of the Tamil Nadu Government.

Replying to an issue raised by the Congress, CPI and CPM in this regard in the State Assembly, the Minister said the Tamil Nadu Government had written to the Karnataka Government seeking an explanation for the reports about the new dam.

Drinking water schemes seeking to serve 44.36 lakh people in eight districts will be implemented at a cost of over 1,500 crore in 2012-13, Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development K.P.Munusamy told the Assembly on Monday.

Replying to the debate on the allocation for departments under him, the Minister said the schemes, to be implemented in Cuddalore, Villupuram, Pudukottai, Theni, Sivaganga, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Tirunelveli district, would benefit 8,134 habitations in five Municipal Corporations,

Project management unit to have 4 separate wings

A separate mechanism has been created with headquarters in Cuddalore for monitoring and management of rehabilitation projects in cyclone ‘Thane' affected areas. K. Veera Raghava Rao, Additional Collector, took charge as Project Director (Thane Rehabilitation), in the presence of Collector Rajendra Ratnoo, on the new office premises located at Mariya Soosai Nagar on Friday.

Collector visits the completed revetment wall and ramp at Punavasal village

Flood prevention works taken up along the Kollidam river in Thanjavur district by the Public Works Department (PWD) are nearing completion. The works were started in October 2010. Out of the total works taken up at a cost of Rs. 106.22 crore, works to the tune of Rs. 93.34 crore have been finished so far. The rest will be completed before the end of March.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests is not a stumbling block to development works or projects. It is only discharging its duties in protecting the environment, Union Minister for Forests and Environment Jayanthi Natarajan said here on Thursday.

The Minister told reporters on the sidelines of a Tree Growers' Mela organised by the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) that her Ministry had the mandate to protect ecology and ensure “pure water and pollution free air” to the people.

The Cuddalore chapter of the Tamil Nadu Legal Services Authority has come to the rescue of cyclone-affected people in the district, who have lost vital documents such as passports, birth certificates, ration cards, court papers and so on. Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority K.Uthirapathy, who is also Principal District and Sessions Court Judge, has taken the initiative to help such people. They would otherwise have to undergo cumbersome procedure of approaching the respective departments or agencies to get duplicates after surmounting legal hurdles and time lapses.

CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday announced a comprehensive special package worth `790.18 crore for farmers in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, the worst affected in Cyclone Thane. While `65.22 crore has been allotted for agricultural crops, `724.96 crore will be givenfor horticultural crops.