Assessment of Environmental Compensation for the mining activities and Brick kiln units Located in the revenue villages of Perur Taluk

The Hon'ble High Court of Madras, through its order dated 10.01.2025 in WP Nos. 27356 and 28266 of 2022 and WMP Nos. 13292, 13294, 35572, and 3700 of 2024 have directed the concerned authorities to take prompt and decisive action regarding environmental violations. The Court has specifically mandated that fines be levied not with leniency, but through robust control measures based on a scientific assessment of environmental loss and damage. Further, the Mining Department has been instructed to swiftly conduct independent inquiries, in collaboration with the Investigating Agency and other relevant bodies, to fix accountability and recover the appropriate fines. These fines are to be deposited in a separate account dedicated solely to restoration and mitigation efforts in the impacted areas.

Additionally, the Court has advised seeking expert input from The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, for the scientific assessment of Environmental Compensation (EC) related to mining and brick kiln activities in eight revenue villages of Perur Taluk, Coimbatore District. The villages include Alandurai, Ikkarai Boluvampatti, Vellimalaipattinam, Karadimalai, Devarayapuram, Madampatti, Thenkarai, and Thondamuthur.

In light of this, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has awarded TERI to assess environmental compensation for all brick kiln units in these villages, in accordance with the Hon’ble High Court’s order and as per CPCB’s guidelines outlined in the “Methodology for Assessing Environmental Compensation and Action Plan”

Objectives

Assessment of environmental compensation for the mining activities and brick kilns units located in the eight revenue villages of Perur Taluk of Coimbatore district.

Prepare a comprehensive plan for the remediation of environmental damages caused by the brick kiln operation and mining activities in the eight revenue villages.

Scope of the study

• Assess the Environmental Compensation for brick kiln units in the eight identified revenue villages of Perur Taluk, Coimbatore District, as per the directives of the Hon’ble High Court of Madras
• 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 in Perur Taluk of Coimbatore district.
• Prepare a detail report on damage to the inherent waterways (if any) of the identified revenue villages of Perur Taluk 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 in Perur Taluk of Coimbatore district.