The Madras High Court on Monday ruled in favor of allowing the Isha Foundation in Coimbatore to proceed with its planned Mahashivaratri celebrations, dismissing a petition that sought to halt the event due to alleged environmental and noise violations.
The petitioner, S T Sivagnanan, had urged the court to prevent the authorities from granting permission for the event, scheduled for February 26 and 27. He cited concerns over the foundation’s sewage treatment capabilities, untreated sewage discharge, and noise pollution during last year’s festivities as the basis for his plea.
In response to the court’s earlier directive, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) conducted an inspection to assess compliance with environmental regulations at the Isha Foundation. R Kannan, member secretary of the TNPCB, provided a counter affidavit stating that the foundation possesses adequate sewage treatment facilities to manage the waste generated during the event. He also confirmed that noise levels at the site were within legal limits and that no complaints had been filed by the public regarding air, water, or noise pollution.
The bench, consisting of Justices S M Subramaniam and K Rajasekar, noted these findings and dismissed the petition.
