{"id":153811,"date":"2025-02-01T19:28:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-01T13:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=current-affairs&#038;p=153811"},"modified":"2025-02-13T11:29:01","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T05:59:01","slug":"compensation-for-environmental-damage-by-tanneries","status":"publish","type":"current-affairs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/compensation-for-environmental-damage-by-tanneries","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court Orders Compensation for Environmental Damage by Tanneries"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court has held that <\/span><b>tanneries in Vellore district, Tamil Nadu<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, have caused <\/span><b>irreversible environmental damage <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">by discharging untreated or partially treated effluents into the<\/span><b> Palar River.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court directed the Tamil Nadu government to compensate the affected individuals, with the cost to be recovered from the polluting units under the<\/span><b> \u2018Polluter Pays\u2019 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">principle.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Key Observations by the Supreme Court<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sustainable Development:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sustainable Development means <\/span><b>meeting our needs today without harming the ability <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of <\/span><b>future generations<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to meet their own needs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court reaffirmed that the <\/span><b>\u201cPrecautionary Principle\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the \u201c<\/span><b>Polluter Pays Principle<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201d are essential features of<\/span><b> Sustainable Development.<\/b><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It stressed the need for balancing environmental conservation with economic activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Polluter Pays Principle:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This principle mandates tha<\/span><b>t those responsible for pollution must bear the cost <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of managing it to prevent harm to human health and the environment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This ensures that <\/span><b>polluters take responsibility<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and helps fund environmental restoration efforts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Precautionary Principle:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>If an activity might cause serious harm<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the environment or human health, <\/span><b>preventive action should be taken<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, even if scientific proof is not complete.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This principle encourages proactive environmental protection rather than waiting for conclusive proof of damage.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Directions to Tamil Nadu Government<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Formation of an Expert Committee: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Tamil Nadu government, in consultation with the central government, has been directed to constitute an Expert Committee within four weeks.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strict Licensing Measures: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Authorities must cancel the licenses of industries that misrepresent information or violate environmental regulations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>What are Tanneries?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tanneries are <\/span><b>factories where animal hides are processed <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and transformed into leather.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The<\/span><b> leather industry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is one of the most polluting industries due to the toxic chemicals used in processing.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>Impact of Tanneries on the Environment<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Water Pollution: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tanneries discharge toxic chemicals such as chromium, sulfides, and acids into water bodies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Groundwater Contamination: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unchecked disposal leads to high levels of pollutants in groundwater, making it unsafe for drinking and agriculture.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Soil Degradation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toxic effluents degrade soil quality, impacting agricultural productivity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Health Hazards: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The pollution affects local communities, causing respiratory issues, skin diseases, and other health concerns.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.8996%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"width: 100%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: rgba(184, 165, 217, 0.53); text-align: left; vertical-align: middle;\">\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt; color: #000000;\"><b>Landmark Supreme Court Judgments on Environmental Protection<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra vs. State (1988)<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognized the <\/span><b>right to live in a healthy environment as part of Article 21<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Constitution.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ordered the<\/span><b> closure of limestone quarries in Dehradun<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to protect the environment.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India (1987)<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Established that the<\/span><b> right to a pollution-free environment is a fundamental right<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under Article 21.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ordered<\/span><b> industries in Delhi to adopt <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">environmental safeguards.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs. Union of India (1996)<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>Expanded the definition of \u2018forest\u2019 to include all green expanses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, regardless of classification or ownership.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthened<\/span><b> forest conservation <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">efforts across India.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/store.pw.live\/govt-entrance-exams\/upsc-books\/upsc-textbooks?utm_source=SEO&#038;utm_medium=PW+Live&#038;utm_campaign=UPSC+Textbooks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check Out UPSC NCERT Textbooks From PW Store<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><b>About the Palar River<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Palar River is one of the major rivers in southern India, playing a vital role in the ecology and economy of the regions it flows through.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Origin and Course: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Palar River<\/span><b> originates in the Nandi Hills<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, located in the Chikkaballapura district of <\/span><b>Karnataka.<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It<\/span><b> flows<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through three states:<\/span><b> Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, before finally emptying into the<\/span><b> Bay of Bengal at Vayalur in Tamil Nadu.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Major Tributaries: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Palar River is fed by several tributaries, the most significant being the Cheyyar and Ponnai rivers, both located in Tamil Nadu.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Water Diversion:\u00a0 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Water from the Palar River is diverted through the <\/span><b>Palar anicut (a traditional water diversion structure) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to two important reservoirs:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Poondi Reservoir: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Located in the Kosasthalaiyar River basin, this reservoir helps meet the water needs of the region.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Chembarambakkam Lake<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Situated in the Adayar River basin, this lake is a crucial source of water for irrigation and drinking purposes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-153785\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/115-679e2304180e2.webp\" alt=\"Tanneries\" width=\"799\" height=\"453\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/115-679e2304180e2.webp 1095w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/115-679e2304180e2-300x170.webp 300w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/115-679e2304180e2-1024x581.webp 1024w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/115-679e2304180e2-768x436.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Ready to boost your UPSC 2025 preparation?<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><i>Join PW&#8217;s UPSC online courses<\/i><\/b><\/a><b><i> today!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"vc_table_green\"><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.6375%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 111.19%; 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