Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 2: High Court today directed the Pollution Control Board (PCB) and Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to take fresh exercise about the industrial units in Rangreth in the outskirts of Srinagar are established according to parameters of law and the residential colony therein is in accordance with Master Plan or not.
It was a representation addressed to Chief Justice of High Court by the inhabitants of Hill View Colony, Old Air Field Road, Wanbal Rangreth Gagoo village and Wawoosa which has been treated as PIL. They complain the worst situation of a water body due to effluents emitted by the industrial units directly into the water body situated in the area.
The Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice V C Koul after hearing the case, directed the PCB to undertake a fresh exercise to reappraise that the industrial units in the area are in consonance with the parameters laid down by the Pollution Control Board.
With regard to the existing residential colony therein, court directed the SMC authorities to inform it as to whether the Colony has been established in accordance with the Master Plan and after due sanction of the lay out and whether it is an unauthorized Colony or is one which has been approved by the Municipal Corporation or the Srinagar Development Authority.
The Pollution Control Board in terms of previous court directions has filed compliance report stating that according to the survey report about 150 industrial units exist in the area which include 03 units in Red category, 53 units in Orange category, 64 units in Green category and 22 units in White category.
PCB further states that a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) is proposed to be established for the primary treatment of the effluents and the waste water discharged by these industries. The civil work for the construction of the said plant has been completed by the SIDCO but the mechanical part is yet to be done.
“The counsel appearing for the Pollution Control Board, is directed to file further affidavit indicating the time limit within which the aforesaid plant is proposed to be made operational and to indicate as to whether the industrial units existing in the area are being run in confirmation with the norms laid down by the Pollution Control Board”, DB directed.
Advocate Momin Khan counsel appearing for the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, has been directed to file an affidavit of the senior officer specifically stating as to whether the industrial area was established first or the aforesaid Colony.” He is also directed to inform whether the Colony has been established in accordance with the Master Plan and after due sanction of the lay out”, reads the order.
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