Maha Shivratri at Isha: Madras HC seeks report from TNPCB over pollution allegations
The Hindu
The Madras High Court called for a report from the TNPCB with respect to an allegation against Isha Foundation that it had been repeatedly flouting pollution norms during the annual Maha Shivratri celebrations at Isha Yoga Centre.
The Madras High Court on Friday (February 21, 2025) called for a report from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) with respect to an allegation against Isha Foundation that it had been repeatedly flouting pollution norms during the annual Maha Shivratri celebrations at Isha Yoga Centre located on Velliangiri foothills in Coimbatore district.
A Division Bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and K. Rajasekar directed Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran to ensure the report was filed by Monday (February 24, 2025) morning. This year’s celebrations were slated to take place on the intervening night between February 26 and 27, 2025, and necessary orders would have to be passed before that.
The interim direction was issued on a writ petition which sought to restrain the Tamil Nadu government, Coimbatore Collector, Superintendent of Police, District Forest Officer, and TNPCB officials from granting permission for the music, dance, and cultural performances organised by the foundation amidst a congregation of several lakh people during the Maha Shivratri celebrations.
The petitioner S.T. Sivagnanan, 52, of Muttathuvayal in Semmedu village of Coimbatore district, submitted he owned about 20 acres of land at Ikkarai Boluvampatti village located adjacent to the Isha Yoga Centre spread over 295 acres.
He claimed that more than 6,000 people work/stay at the yoga centre, run by Isha Foundation, and around 7,000 people visit the facility everyday. The number swells during festival days and around 7 lakh people had attended the Maha Shivratri festival conducted at the centre in 2023.
The petitioner said, the yoga centre does not have sufficient facilities to attend to the huge amount of sewage generated due to such massive gatherings. His counsel A. Yogeshwaran argued music and dance performances in the nature of a concert could not be permitted near a forest area.
He also stated that the heavy light arrangements made at the yoga centre, during the Maha Shivratri celebrations, disturbs the wild animals, especially the elephants. The petitioner also claimed to have filed a similar writ petition before the 2024 Maha Shivratri celebrations and that it was pending.
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