The Madras High Court on Monday declined to restrain Isha Yoga Centre from proceeding with its widely publicised Maha Shivaratri celebrations at Coimbatore on February 26 and 27..As per a New Indian Express report, a bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and K Rajasekar dismissed the petition, observing,“The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has stated that Isha is complying with the norms and conducting the programme inside the campus and it may not cause any noise pollution to the people residing outside the campus.".The petition was filed by ST Sivagnanan, a resident of Coimbatore who claimed ownership of a farm adjacent to the Isha Foundation. He argued that Isha had been conducting its Maha Shivaratri festival without adhering to pollution control norms.He contended that in the past, he had approached the Court over grievances related to Isha’s sewage discharge and noise pollution. In response, the Court had issued an interim order directing the authorities to ensure that no sewage or wastewater was released onto his property. However, he alleged that despite the Court's directive, the authorities took minimal action to address Isha's violations..The State submitted a counter-affidavit on behalf of the TNPCB, stating that Isha Yoga Centre has a sewage treatment capacity of 1,725 KLD, sufficient to handle daily waste from residents and visitors. Treated sewage is used for irrigation.For the Maha Shivaratri festival, temporary toilets have been arranged and collected sewage will be transported to the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation’s treatment plant. Regarding noise pollution, TNPCB stated that last year’s ambient noise levels remained within the prescribed 75 dB(A) limit.The Court noted that the petitioner, apart from expressing apprehensions, had not established any legal right to seek an injunction against Isha from conducting the Maha Shivaratri festival. Consequently, the plea was dismissed.
The Madras High Court on Monday declined to restrain Isha Yoga Centre from proceeding with its widely publicised Maha Shivaratri celebrations at Coimbatore on February 26 and 27..As per a New Indian Express report, a bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and K Rajasekar dismissed the petition, observing,“The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has stated that Isha is complying with the norms and conducting the programme inside the campus and it may not cause any noise pollution to the people residing outside the campus.".The petition was filed by ST Sivagnanan, a resident of Coimbatore who claimed ownership of a farm adjacent to the Isha Foundation. He argued that Isha had been conducting its Maha Shivaratri festival without adhering to pollution control norms.He contended that in the past, he had approached the Court over grievances related to Isha’s sewage discharge and noise pollution. In response, the Court had issued an interim order directing the authorities to ensure that no sewage or wastewater was released onto his property. However, he alleged that despite the Court's directive, the authorities took minimal action to address Isha's violations..The State submitted a counter-affidavit on behalf of the TNPCB, stating that Isha Yoga Centre has a sewage treatment capacity of 1,725 KLD, sufficient to handle daily waste from residents and visitors. Treated sewage is used for irrigation.For the Maha Shivaratri festival, temporary toilets have been arranged and collected sewage will be transported to the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation’s treatment plant. Regarding noise pollution, TNPCB stated that last year’s ambient noise levels remained within the prescribed 75 dB(A) limit.The Court noted that the petitioner, apart from expressing apprehensions, had not established any legal right to seek an injunction against Isha from conducting the Maha Shivaratri festival. Consequently, the plea was dismissed.
