Ahmedabad pollution: Gujarat HC seeks report from AMC, GPCB

The Gujarat High Court has directed the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to file an action taken report by June 20 with respect to the problems faced by the residents of Vinzol and adjoining areas due to the polluting industries operating in Vinzol and Vatva GIDCs.

The direction came from the division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Vinzol Village Development Committee alleging inaction of GPCB and AMC on the errant polluting units. The petitioner has submitted to the court that residents of the area are forced to live in pathetic condition due to the severe air and water pollution in the locality.

The committee has submitted that the hazardous gases discharged by textile, pesticide, dyes, and other chemical industries, have severely polluted the air and water in the area.

It has been alleged that there is open disposal of hazardous chemicals and effluents posing a major risk to human health, with the authorities turning a blind eye to the issue.

It has been also argued that although there is an effluent treatment plant, but its capacity is lower than required and many industries are releasing harmful effluents in the nearby canal.

The committee has also submitted before the court that such polluting chemical industries should remain at least 8-10 km away from residential areas. However, in the case of Vinzol, they are located adjacent to residential areas posing a major threat to the health of residents.

It has appealed to the court to direct the authorities to take appropriate action against the polluting industries. The committee has also appealed that the officials of AMC and GPCB, who are authorised to take action against the pollution units and have failed to carry out their duties, should be also penalised.

The committee has claimed that the inaction by the authorities is in gross violation of Section 133 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which deals with the trade and occupations which are injurious to the health or physical comfort of the community.

TOXIC AFFAIR

• The direction came from the division bench of Acting Chief Justice AS Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav in a PIL filed by Vinzol Village Development Committee alleging inaction of GPCB and AMC on polluting units
• It has been alleged that there is open disposal of hazardous chemicals and effluents posing a risk to health