The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to submit a report by Monday, detailing whether Isha Foundation is conducting its Maha Shivaratri celebrations in compliance with pollution control rules and regulations.
A division bench comprising Justice S.M. Subramaniam and Justice K. Rajasekar emphasized that if Isha Foundation is found to be violating the rules, the state government has the authority to take necessary action. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has been instructed to submit its findings.
The case was filed by ST Sivagnanan, a petitioner who owns land near the Isha Foundation premises at the foothills of Velliangiri in Coimbatore. He alleged that the foundation’s large-scale celebrations cause noise and water pollution, severely impacting the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats.
According to the petitioner, over 7 lakh people attend the Maha Shivaratri event, but Isha lacks proper sewage treatment facilities, leading to untreated effluents being discharged into the environmentally fragile zone. Additionally, loudspeakers and high-intensity lights used during the event allegedly disturb wildlife, increasing the risk of man-animal conflict.
The petitioner’s advocate further argued that Isha Foundation, while seeking environmental clearance, had identified itself as an educational institution. Since areas surrounding educational institutions are designated silent zones, the advocate questioned how Isha could conduct an all-night festival with high decibel levels.
The court’s directive now puts the onus on the state government and TNPCB to investigate and take action if violations are confirmed.