Chennai: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a penalty of 5.1 crore on Aavin for polluting a waterbody near its Ambattur plant. The NGT has directed Tamil Nadu govt-owned Aavin to reduce production at the Ambattur plant by one-third.
This move could disrupt milk supply in Chennai, as the plant supplies more than 4.5 lakh litres of milk daily.
S Sekaran from the Korattur Lake Protecting People’s Movement filed a case with the NGT seeking action against industries polluting the lake, including Aavin’s Ambattur facility.
Following NGT’s directives, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) inspected the plant and found that it was generating 430 KLD (kilolitres per day) of effluent, exceeding the approved limit of 325 KLD. This was attributed to Aavin producing 4.5 lakh litres of milk per day, surpassing its sanctioned capacity of three lakh litres. Several effluent treatment plant (ETP) components, including the fat removal tank, aeration tank, carbon filter and biogas digester, were found to be non-operational or used intermittently.
Two years ago, TNPCB instructed the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (TNCMPF), which manufactures Aavin products, to adhere to approved production limits, apply for operational expansion permits, fix ETP deficiencies, segregate plastic waste and establish a greenbelt on the premises. However, during a recent inspection, the TNPCB noted that the TNCMPF had failed to address these violations and that pollution of the lake continued.
This move could disrupt milk supply in Chennai, as the plant supplies more than 4.5 lakh litres of milk daily.
S Sekaran from the Korattur Lake Protecting People’s Movement filed a case with the NGT seeking action against industries polluting the lake, including Aavin’s Ambattur facility.
Following NGT’s directives, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) inspected the plant and found that it was generating 430 KLD (kilolitres per day) of effluent, exceeding the approved limit of 325 KLD. This was attributed to Aavin producing 4.5 lakh litres of milk per day, surpassing its sanctioned capacity of three lakh litres. Several effluent treatment plant (ETP) components, including the fat removal tank, aeration tank, carbon filter and biogas digester, were found to be non-operational or used intermittently.
Two years ago, TNPCB instructed the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (TNCMPF), which manufactures Aavin products, to adhere to approved production limits, apply for operational expansion permits, fix ETP deficiencies, segregate plastic waste and establish a greenbelt on the premises. However, during a recent inspection, the TNPCB noted that the TNCMPF had failed to address these violations and that pollution of the lake continued.
