CHENNAI: Two months after the Tamil Nadu government approached the Madras high court challenging a Central Groundwater Board (CGWB) report, which claimed that Sterlite Industries alone could not be blamed for groundwater pollution in Tuticorin, the CGWB informed the court that it never gave a clean chit to the industry.“As the scientific team could not enter the premises of Sterlite for collection of samples, it was not possible for them to establish a direct linkage between the ground water contamination and the effluent seepage from the plant as has been stated in the report. The conclusions arrived by CGWB had not ruled out pollution by Sterlite nor does it, at any point, contradict the findings of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board investigations,” the boards regional director C Paul Prabhakar said in an affidavit filed in the court.While undertaking the assessment of ground water quality at Tuticorin, the CGWB never had any intention to prejudice or interfere in the legal and other matters of the state government or to help any private organisation. On the other hand, it was firmly believed that the said report, when considered in conjunction with the findings of the state government, would bring out more clarity on the ground water situation in the area and will help the state government in taking necessary remedial measures, he addedHe said CGWB was mandated to monitor and implement national policies for sustainable development and management of India’s ground water resources, including assessment of its quality.“CGWB undertakes various investigations, including regular monitoring of groundwater level and quality to facilitate scientific management of the resources. To fulfil the objectives of water quality assessments, CGWB has 16 hydro-chemical labs with state-of-the-art equipment for testing of groundwater samples. The reports of various investigations/monitoring were being shared regularly with the state governments for information and follow up action,” he pointed out.This apart, Prabhakar contended that the state filing a petition in the high court against Centre was not maintainable, as Article 131 of the Constitution mandated states must approach the Supreme Court in such matters. “Therefore, the writ petition was not maintainable and liable to be dismissed. The state government, before filing the petition against central government at the cost of public exchequer, citing study reports and official communications between the Centre and the state, should have shared its views/objections, if any.“ In case of any difference of opinion from the state, the appropriate course of action was to express their views for amicable resolution for healthy Centre-State relations,” he added.

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