DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN DHARMAPURI DISTRICT (As per Hon’ble NGT in O.A.No.710-713/2017 dated 15.07.2019) Statue of Adhiyaman and Avvaiyar at Adhiyamankottam Hogenakkal Falls INDEX Page S. No. CONTENTS No. 1 Introduction 1 2 District Environmental Plan of Dharmapuri District 5 I. Solid Waste Management 5 II. Bio-medical Waste Management 8 III. Plastic Waste Management 11 IV. Construction and Demolition Waste (C&D) 17 V. Non Attainment cities 17 VI. Rejuvenation Polluted River Stretches 17 VII. Polluted Industrial Cluster 21 VIII. Industrial Pollution Control 21 IX. Utilization of treated sewage 22 X. Conservation of Water Bodies 24 XI. E- Waste Management 27 XII. Sand Mining 29 3 Conclusion 30 INTRODUCTION Dharmapuri District The first district created in Tamil Nadu after the independence of India by splitting it from then Salem district on 02 October, 1965. Dharmapuri was called Tagadur during the Sangam era. The name Tagadur is derived from two Tamil words, "Thagadu" meaning iron (iron ore), and "Oor" meaning "place". The Dharmapuri district was split into Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts in 2004. Many historical rock sculptures are found in this district. Modhur, a village near Dharmapuri has remains that date back to the Neolithic age. The district is located between latitudes N 11 47’ and 12 33’ and longitudes E 77 02’ and 78 40’. Occupies an area of 4,497.77 km2 (1,736.60 sq m) (i.e. 3.46% of Tamil Nadu). It is bounded on the north by Krishnagiri District, on the east by Tiruvannamalai District and Kallakurichi district, on the south by Salem District, and on the west by Karnataka's Chamarajanagar District. The whole district is surrounded by hills and forests, and the terrain is of rolling plains type. The whole district is predominantly covered with forests. Spider Valley located near Hogenakkal is home to many wild animals. The district falls in the migratory path of elephants. Many tribal communities depend on these forests. Vathalmalai, a mountain hamlet on top of Shervarayan hill chain has suitable conditions to cultivate coffee and jackfruit. Wild boars and spotted deer are commonly seen in Morappur and Harur forest region. Thoppur ghat has one of the area's scenic highways surrounded by mountains and forests.The major towns in the district are Harur, Palacode, Karimangalam, Pennagaram and Pappireddipatti. The District is one of the major producers of mango in the state, fine quality granite is found in the district. It is also one of the main sericulture belts in the state. Around 30 percent of the district's area is under forest cover. Cauvery river enters Tamil Nadu through this district. According to 2011 census, Dharmapuri district had a population of 1,506,843 with a sex- ratio of 946 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. Dharmapuri district shows increasingly improved performances in literacy and education. In the year 2011 it was in last position in Tamil Nadu with a score of 62%, whereas by the year 2016 it showed a 92% literacy rate and ranked 12th in Tamil Nadu out of 32. 1 Preamble – District Planning Committee for Environmental Protection Hon’ble NGT in O.A. No. 710-713/2017 dated 15.07.2019 ordered regarding constitution of District Committee (as a part of District Planning Committee under Article 243 ZD) under Articles 243 G, 243 W, 243 ZD read with Schedules 11 and 12 and Rule 15 of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. In the above said order, it is stated that among others ‘Chief Secretaries may personally monitor compliance of environmental norms (including BMW Rules) with the District Magistrate once every month. The District Magistrates may conduct such monitoring twice every month. We find it necessary to add that in view of Constitutional provisions under Articles 243 G, 243 W, 243 ZD read with Schedules 11 and 12 and Rule 15 of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 it is necessary to have a District Environment Plan to be operated by a District committee (as a part of District Planning Committee under Article 243 ZD)’ In this regard, Principal Secretary to Government/Chairman(FAC) vide D.O. letter dated 26.07.2019 requested Dharmapuri District Collector to prepare District Environmental plans by constituting District Committee (as a part of District Planning Committee under Article 243 ZD) with representatives from Panchayats, Local Bodies, Regional Officers, State PCB and a suitable officer representing the administration, which may in turn be chaired and monitored by the District Collector/District Magistrate twice every month and shall host the same in the website for a period of one year on or before 01.08.2019 & furnish monthly progress report to Chief Secretary to Government every month and copy of the same earmarked to TNPC Board accordingly. The District Environmental plan of Dharmapuri District covers the following environmental issues. I. Solid Waste Management II. Bio-Medical Waste Management III. Plastic Waste Management IV. Construction and Demolition Waste (C&D) V. Non Attainment Cities 2 VI. Polluted River Stretches VII. Polluted Industrial Cluster VIII. Industrial Pollution Control IX. Utilization of Treated Sewage X. Conservation of Water Bodies XI. E-Waste Management XII. Sand Mining Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board requested the District Collector to prepare District Environmental Plans on the above said environmental issues and adhere to the responsibilities assigned to each of the District Committee members for compliance. Constitution of the District Committee with PA (PD) as Convenor and the committee shall periodically review the above said environmental issues on fortnightly basis and the progress on compliance shall be closely monitored. The prepared District Environmental plan and monthly progress report shall be sent to the Chief Secretary to Government, Government of Tamil Nadu and a copy shall be hosted in the District Administration website with a copy to the Principle Secretary to Government, Environment & Forests Department. As per the direction, the District Collector, Dharmapuri District has formed the District Planning Committee for Environmental Protection(hereinafter referred as District Committee) in Dharmapuri District on 30.08.2019 comprising of the following 17 members to evolve and execute District Environmental Plan. 1. District Collector, Dharmapuri Chairman 2. PA (PD), Dharmapuri Convener 3. Project Director, DRDA, Dharmapuri Member 4. District Revenue Officer, Dharmapuri Member 5. Regional Director of Municipal Administration, Salem Member 6. Joint Director of Health Services, Dharmapuri Member 7. Deputy Director of Health Services, Dharmapuri Member 3 8. The Joint Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Member Sciences, Dharmapuri 9. District Environmental Engineer, Member Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Dharmapuri 10. Revenue Divisional Officer, Dharmapuri Member 11. Revenue Divisional Officer, Harur Member 12. The Commissioner, Dharmapuri Municipality, Dharmapuri Member 13. Executive Engineer, PWD, WRO Division, Dharmapuri Member 14. Assistant Director, Town Panchayats, Dharmapuri Member 15. Assistant Director, Panchayats, Dharmapuri Member 16. Assistant Director, Geology and Mining, Dharmapuri Member 17. The General Manager, DIC, Dharmapuri Member Accordingly, the following District Environmental Plan has been prepared on the said 12 subjects as per the guidelines in respect of Dharmapuri District for compliance. 4 DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTALPLAN OF DHARMAPURI DISTRICT I. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT 1.1 Preamble The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has notified the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. As per the Rules, the role of local body has been specified as per Rule 15 of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and as per Rule 16 of the said Rules, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board shall enforce these Rules through local bodies. With respect to effective implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Hon’ble NGT had laid down several orders, of which, Hon’ble National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench on 22nd December 2016 has passed judgment in Original Application No. 199 of 2014 filed by Mrs. Almitra Patel with regard to solid waste management. Further, for effective implementation of the said Rules, the Hon’ble NGT in its orders dated 31.08.2018 had constituted Apex Committee, Regional Committee and State Committee. Also, as per Hon’ble NGT order dated 16.01.2019 in O.A. No. 606/2018, State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC) in Tamil Nadu is constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. P. Jyothimani, Former Judge, Madras High Court, Former Judicial Member, National Green Tribunal. The State Monitoring Committee meetings were held on 12.02.2019, 22.02.2019, 29.03.2019, 30.04.2019, 30.05.2019, 10.06.2019 (hotels), 27.06.2019(Hospitals). 1.2 Solid Wastes generation in Dharmapuri District In Dharmapuri District, there are 01 Municipality, 10 Town Panchayats and 08 Panchayat unions as local bodies. The total quantity of solid waste generation is around 61.17 Tons/Day and the solid waste is being collected and the wet solid waste is Composted and Vermi Composted. The plastic waste is collected and partly used for recycling and partly in Road laying and the inert wastes are being disposed in the landfill sites. 5 Dharmapuri Municipality, MSW Biomining site at Thadangam village, Nallampalli Taluk Dharmapuri District MSW Micro Compost Centre (MCC), Dharmapuri 6 1.3. As per Hon’ble NGT order dated 15.07.2019 in O.A. No. 710-713/2017, the detailed guidelines to be followed by the District Committee in respect of Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 are illustrated below. S Responsibility of the Plan of Action Stake holders No District Committee responsible 1. Collection, Segregation i.. To carry out 100% door to door collection & Treatment of solid with segregation at Source. All Local bodies waste ii. Quantification of generation of solid wastes namely (Bio degradable, Non Bio degradable, Inerts, Commissioner, etc). Dharmapuri iii.