Isha discharging untreated sewage: Plea

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court issued notice to the Isha Foundation and directed the State to ensure that the foundation did not discharge sewage into the nearby agricultural lands.

The petitioner, ST Sivagnanan from Semmedu village in Coimbatore moved the court seeking to direct the government to restrain Isha Foundation from discharging sewage without proper connection and not to issue licence to the foundation to conduct Shivaratri function to protect the animals from the nearby forest.

When the case came before a division bench comprising Justice SS Sundar and Justice N Senthilkumar, senior counsel P Wilson said that the Isha Yoga Centre undertook construction to the extent of 192 acres at Velliangiri foothills without proper sewage connection, as it is located in the forest area. Hence, it was discharging sewage and effluent into the neighbouring agricultural land owned by the petitioner, he said.

Disposing of untreated sewage in this manner was causing health hazards, said the petitioner, adding that crops and animals he was rearing were affected by various airborne and waterborne diseases. “I have also fallen sick due to the untreated sewage from Isha Yoga Centre,” he said.

The yoga centre was now gearing up to hold the Mahashivaratri event attended by lakhs of visitors on March 8, he said, expressing apprehension that the situation might worsen due to an increase in sewage discharge.

The noise pollution and illumination from the event disturb the wildlife, and the elephants which experience stress were coming to the villages and endangering the life and properties of the people, the petitioner submitted.

Despite submitting several representations to the police and pollution control board, no action was taken so far, he said.

The bench issued notice to the Isha Foundation returnable on March 27 and adjourned the matter.