NGT instructed the TNPCB on August 10, 2023 to inspect the area, collect water and soil samples, and determine the mass of water bodies near NLCIL. |Photo source: Kumar SS
A study conducted by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Commission (TNPCB) on the instructions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in the southern region showed an increase in mercury content in waters located near NLC India Limited (NLC) II, NLC II (NLC) II.
After the NGT intervention, a TNPCB study was conducted and water samples were collected on December 17, 2024. The report was submitted Wednesday.
NGT has Suo Motu The NGO Poovulagin Nanbargal, a report in collaboration with Mandan Athayayan Kendra, filed a lawsuit after a report “Powering Pollution” involving environmental and health degradation near the Neyveli thermal power plant and the location of mining operations in Parangipettai in Cuddalore area.
NGT instructed the TNPCB on August 10, 2023 to inspect the area, collect water and soil samples, and determine the mass of water bodies near NLCIL.
According to the report on 14 pages, 32 surface water, groundwater and soil samples were collected from the vast area, including the Palavana River, the Palavana River, the Varaja Lake, the Iyang Lake, the Iyang Lake, the Buckingham near the plastering plant near the North Kana Hai River, my I mine, the I mine in Veenageni, Veenageni, Veenageni, Veenageni, Veenageni, Veenageni, Veenageni, Vaadakkkkuvellur Pond pother, Muappaneri vister, Nucive and water and and takn in U. (Jawahar College), Pudhukuppam and Karikuppam villages.
Among them, the concentration of total mercury was found to be higher than the allowable limits of drinking water standards, and among the 17 surface water samples, 15 were from 0.0012 mg/l to 0.115 mg/l. At one of the sites where water samples were collected, in the Buckingham Canal, the concentration of mercury was found to be 115 times the allowable limit.
Water samples collected from the canal showed that the total concentration of total mercury was 0.115 mg/l compared to the allowable limit. Although the results show that mercury is high, the TNPCB said in its report that it is 2296 Class E (not suitable for alcohol consumption) according to surface water standards, and there is no limit on mercury.
Prabhakaran Veerarasu, environmental engineer at Plankton Nanbargal, said: “The E-class assessment itself is wrong because residents use water for alcohol and agricultural purposes. The assessment of the assessment should not see the limitations of mercury from standard Class E, but it should be E-class compared to the drinking water standards.”
Similarly, in groundwater samples, the presence of mercury was found to be in the range of 0.0025 mg/l to 0.0626 mg/l, an increase of 2.5 to 62 times over the allowable limit. The report said that among the nine groundwater samples collected, mercury concentrations were found in six samples.
In the groundwater samples collected in Vanadhirayapuram village, the concentration of mercury was found to be 0.0626, 62 times higher than the allowable limit. But people continue to drink this contaminated water.
Mr Prabhakaran said: “When mercury and other heavy metals are naturally not found in the water sources, how can such high pollution be possible in these water bodies? If these water bodies are considered contaminated, then is the person who contaminated them contaminated these water? The pollutants of these water are consumed in these water sources and whether there is a risk of pollution in these pollutants.
He further said: “People in these villages have been using alcohol demand, and the water in these bodies of water has been contaminated with heavy metals and other pollutants for a long time. We recommend that the state government conduct a comprehensive health survey of Neyveli and its surrounding areas and take immediate action to prevent further pollution from affected villages.”
According to Sripath Dharmadhikari, one of the authors of the report titled ‘Powering Pollution’, “The collection of soil and water samples and testing indication that the villages in Neyveli area around the cluster of NLC Thermal Power Stations and Mines are reeling under severe pollution and its impacts due to the operations of NLC Mines and TPSs. The pollution from the mines and TPSs are impacting the health of the people as well as cattle, agricultural land, air, water and livelihoods.”
He added: “NLCIL should take immediate measures to prevent all pollution and ensure that the discharge of wastewater from mines must comply with wastewater discharge standards. The TNPCB and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC) should establish a mechanism to effectively monitor this.”
According to T. Arulselvam, environmental observer of Cuddalore, the Coordinator of the Regional Community Environmental Monitor (SACEM), T. Arulselvam, “The TNPCB shall monitor NLCIL’s activities and ensure that the instructions of NGT are followed in letters and spirit.”
publishing – April 17, 2025 at 09:28 pm IST
