Assessment of Environmental Compensation for the brick kilns that were functioning in the Thadagam region of Coimbatore district for causing ecological damage/environmental pollution in that area

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;

"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.

"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.

In all these cases, detailed investigations are required from expert institutions/organizations based on which environmental compensation will be decided. CPCB shall list the expert institutions for this purpose. In such cases, comprehensive plan for remediation of environmental pollution may be prepared and executed under the supervision of a committee with representatives of SPCB, CPCB and expert institutions/organizations'."

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. In response, TERI, as a research institute, submitted the proposal to take up the study to assess the environmental compensation for the brick kiln units in the 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 the Coimbatore district.

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