AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF POLLUTION AND RESOURCE DEPLETION CAUSED BY THE COIR INDUSTRY

AUTHOR – JOTHI SATHYAP PRIYA. V* & DR. A. SUGANTHINI**

* STUDENT AT SCHOOL OF LAW, VELS INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCED STUDIES (VISTAS)

** ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT SCHOOL OF LAW, VELS INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ADVANCED STUDIES (VISTAS)

BEST CITATION – JOTHI SATHYAP PRIYA. V & DR. A. SUGANTHINI, AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF POLLUTION AND RESOURCE DEPLETION CAUSED BY THE COIR INDUSTRY, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (7) OF 2026, PG. 83-108, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

This dissertation investigates the growing environmental conflict between industrial development and ecological preservation within the Indian coir industry, specifically focusing on the Coimbatore-Pollachi belt in Tamil Nadu. The study analyzes the environmental degradation—including water pollution, groundwater depletion, and soil contamination—caused by the shift of the coir industry from a small-scale cottage sector to a semi-industrialized cluster. By applying established environmental doctrines such as the Precautionary Principle, the Polluter Pays Principle, and the Public Trust Doctrine, the research evaluates the efficacy of existing statutory frameworks, including the Water Act (1974), the Air Act (1981), and the Environment (Protection) Act (1986). It concludes that despite robust legislative provisions, systemic regulatory failures persist, and it emphasizes the essential role of judicial intervention in expanding Article 21 of the Constitution to protect the right to a healthy environment.

Keywords – Coir industry, Environmental law, Industrial pollution, Groundwater depletion, Sustainable development, Polluter Pays Principle, India, Regulatory enforcement.