A division bench of the Gujarat High Court has issued notices to the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and others over pollution caused by an industry engaged in making paper from waste.
The PIL was filed after the company sought permission to expand its capacity. The petition filed by Rakesh Rai said that NR Agarwal Industries in Sarigam Vapi had already ended up polluting the water sources so much so that the villagers residing in the vicinity were forced to buy drinking water.
Zubin Bharda, counsel for the petitioner, argued that despite several complaints, the pollution control board continued to give a clean chit to the company. He said the company was once shut down for a fortnight but then was allowed to restart despite there being no improvement in the pollution standards.
It highlighted a recent report by the GPCB that stated that water sources in and around the industry were polluted, but in its final conclusion stated that there was no pollution.
The counsel argued that the industry left its sludge waste in the open and when it rained, the waste would seep underground, contaminating underground water sources.
The petition stated that industry now wanted to increase its power plant capacity from 15 megawatt to 30 megawatt and increase its production capacity from 1.8 lakh mt tn to 3.48 lakh mt tonne. This, they argued, would further pollute the area.
DAMAGE DONE
- NR Agarwal Industries in Sarigam Vapi has already ended up polluting the water sources so much so that the villagers residing in the vicinity were forced to buy drinking water.
- The industry now wants to increase its power plant capacity from 15 megawatt to 30 megawatt. If okayed, this may pollute the waterbodies further.
