Assessment of Environmental Compensation for the Brick Kiln Units Located in Thadagam valley, Coimbatore

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has imposed environmental compensation for 185 brick kiln units located in Thadagam region of Coimbatore district for causing damage to the environment. Subsequently, aggrieved by the same the Brick Kiln units filed writ petitions against the Board's proceeding before the Hon'ble High Court of Madras.

The Hon'ble High Court of Madras vide order dated 27.04.2023 in WP No. 34793 of 2022 has directed the following among other;

(2) The Chairman, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, prior to fixing damages, shall strictly follow the methodology given by the Central Pollution Control Board's In-house Committee for assessing environmental compensation and action plan in particular, as per Guidelines 1.3.2.

(6) The period of damage shall be from the date of commencement of the operation by the individual brick kiln which can be found out from the Annual Brick Fee paid by them or from such material as the Chairman/ the Committee so decides and shall conclude with the date of closure passed by the District Collector, Coimbatore i.e.. 13.06.2021.

Whereas, the CPCB In-house Committee report on "Methodology for Assessing Environmental Compensation and Action Plan" under section 1.3.2 has stated the following;

"1.3.2 In other instances i.e. d, e and f, the environmental compensation may contain two parts - one requires providing immediate relief and other long-term measures such as remediation.

With this background, the TNPCB had approached The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi to submit a proposal to assess the environmental compensation to all the brick kiln units (185 Nos.) located in Thadagam region of Coimbatore district through expert institutions / organizations as per the Hon'ble High Court of Madras order dated 27.04.2023 in WP No. 34793 of 2022 and as stated by the CPCB in "Methodology for Assessing Environmental Compensation and Action Plan" under section 1.3.2.

Scope of the study

• Assess the Environmental Compensation for 185 brick kiln units located in Thadagam region of Coimbatore district as per the Hon’ble Court of madras order dated 27.04.2023 in WP No. 34793 of 2022 following the section 1.3.2 of “Report of the CPCB In-house Committee on methodology for Assessing Environmental Compensation and Action Plan to utilize the fund”.
• Assess the pollution caused during the operation of the brick kilns without the consent of the Pollution control board.
• Prepare a comprehensive plan for remediation of environmental pollution caused by the brick kiln units Thadagam region of Coimbatore district.
• Prepare a detail report on damage to the inherent waterways of the Thadagam valley due to mining of topsoil and brick kiln activity.
• Furnish detailed report on the assessment of environmental compensation to be paid by the Brick kiln units (185 Nos) in Thadagam region of Coimbatore district.

Objective of the study

Assessment of imposed environmental compensation by the TNPCB to brick kiln units located in Thadagam region of Coimbatore district.

Assessment of damage to the inherent waterways of Thadagam valley due to mining of topsoil and brick kiln activity

Prepare a comprehensive plan for remediation of environmental damages caused by the brick kiln operation in the Tandagam region.