The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has imposed a penalty of ₹5.10 crore on the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited (Aavin) for environmental violations at its Ambattur dairy unit. This decision follows inspections revealing non-compliance with pollution control regulations, including untreated effluent discharges and improper waste management.
In a report submitted before the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which is hearing a case filed by the Korattur Lake Protecting People’s Movement against the pollution in the lake, the TNPCB said Aavin had failed to adhere to several directives, which included both short-term and long-term corrective actions aimed at curbing effluent discharge.
Despite being instructed to limit its milk production to the consented capacity of 3 lakh litres per day, the dairy unit was found processing up to 4.5 lakh litres of milk daily without obtaining the necessary ‘Consent to Operate’ from the TNPCB or ramping up the effluent treatment plant (ETP).
During inspections, TNPCB officials found that key components of the ETP were either not operational or were functioning intermittently. Additionally, Aavin was found to be improperly managing solid waste, particularly plastic and metal waste. During the inspection in November 2024, large piles of unsegregated scrap metal and plastic waste were found dumped in the open near the ETP.
The TNPCB had previously directed the unit to segregate and store plastic waste in a closed, secure area to prevent wind dispersal. However, the unit failed to comply with this instruction, and the waste continued to accumulate without proper disposal. Hence, the TNPCB has computed the penalty and issued a show cause notice to Aavin on December 6.
The Bench, comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati, on Wednesday stressed that Aavin, being a government organisation supplying milk to the public, should take steps to prevent pollution of the Korattur Lake and directed a status report on the ETP to be filed. The bench also asked an Aavin official to be present for the next hearing scheduled on December 16.
