Tirupur
Dyeing Factory Oweners Ass. Vs. Noyyal River A. Protection Ass. & Ors.
[2009] INSC 1624 (6 October 2009)
Judgment
IN THE
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO.6776 OF
2009 @ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 6963 OF 2007 Tirupur Dyeing Factory
Owners .... Appellants Association Versus Noyyal River Ayacutdars Protection
.... Respondents Association and others WITH CIVIL APPEAL NO. 6777 OF 2009 @
SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 28296 OF 2008
Dr. B.S.
Chauhan, J.
1.
Leave granted.
2.
These appeals have been filed against the Judgment and Order dated
22.12.2006 of the Madras High Court in writ petition no. 29791 of 2003 and
order dated 27.2.2007 dismissing the Review Application No.14 of 2007 in the
said case.
3.
The facts and circumstances giving rise to this case are that a
Public Interest Litigation was filed by the Noyyal River 2 Ayacutdars
Protection Association, a registered Association (Respondent No. 1), for
seeking directions for preservation of ecology and for keeping the Noyyal river
in Tamil Nadu free from pollution. According to the said Association, a large
number of industries, some of them respondents before the writ court and
appellants herein had indulged in dyeing and bleaching works at Tirupur area
and discharging the industrial effluents into the Noyyal river which created
water pollution to the extent, that the water of the river was neither fit for
irrigation nor potable. The pollution also adversely affected the Orthapalayam
reservoir and other tanks and channels of the said river. A similar issue i.e.
menace of
pollution had also earlier been raised by another association namely Karur
Taluk Noyyal Canal Agriculturists Association by filing writ petition(c) no.
1649 of 1996 before the Madras High Court. The High Court disposed of the said
petition vide judgment and order dated 26.2.1998 on the basis of joint Memo of
Understanding filed by all the contesting parties, which contained the terms,
to implement the pollution control measures and to pay the damages etc. The
High Court directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (hereinafter called
as 3 "Board") to implement the pollution control and environmental
laws and also granted liberty to decide the amount for which dyeing units were
liable to reimburse for the loss caused by pollution. The dyeing and bleaching
units were directed to contribute an amount to meet the expenses of cleaning of
the Orathapalayam dam. For compliance of the said order, a period of three
months was given.
4.
The dyeing and bleaching units' Association filed an application
for extension of time for compliance of the aforesaid directions issued by the
High Court but the said application was rejected by the Court vide Order dated
29.4.1998. Being aggrieved, the Association of the unit owners approached this
Court by filing the Special Leave Petition (Civil) Nos. 8601, 8641, 8747 and
9150 of 1998. This Court issued some directions in respect of 53 units in
Tirupur and 97 units in Karur. As these directions were complied with, the said
petitions were disposed of vide order dated 8.1.1999 as nothing survived.
5.
The Government of Tamil Nadu issued order dated 14.12.2000 to
carry out a study on the restoration of Orthapalayam Dam with the help of the
department of 4 Environmental Sciences of Tamil Nadu, environmental NGOs,
entrepreneurs together with Department of Forests. The study was completed and
a report was prepared, according to which, there had been no improvement in the
quality of water.
Thereafter,
the present respondent no.1 (Noyyal River Ayacutdars Protection Association)
filed Writ Petition no. 29791 of 2003 before the Madras High Court and sought
directions that respondent nos. 1-3 therein, would clean the river water stored
at Orathapalayam dam within a stipulated time with its own expenses, or to
recover the expenses which could be recovered from the dyeing and bleaching
Units Associations and thereby preventing the pollution of the Noyyal river in
future by the said units i.e. members of the Association. An interim relief was
sought to restrain the private respondents from discharging their industrial
effluents into Noyyal river.
6.
The case was contested by the present appellant as well as by the
State Government and other State instrumentalities. It was pointed out to the
High Court that recommendations made by various committees to prevent further
pollution were being 5 given effect to and a huge amount of Rs. 1,95,00,000/-
(rupees one crore and ninety five lacs) would be required for the project of
cleaning and a sum of Rs.23 crores was required for installation of treatment
plants. The Association of Units owners had to establish R.O. (Reverse Osmosis)
system and to attain Zero Liquid Discharge (hereinafter called ZLD) of the
trade effluents.
Thus, the
said Association was required to deposit a sum equivalent of 25% of the R.O.
cost and 50% of the project cost etc. and it was also pointed out that 150
pre-treatment plants were also likely to be established. The Court passed the
order dated 26.12.2006, as an interim measure keeping the petition pending,
issuing the following directions :
"(a)
The CETPs are given time upto the 31 st of July, 2007 to achieve the Zero
Liquid Discharge(ZLD) of trade effluents subject to the following conditions :
(i) The
concerned CETPs are directed to pay a fine on pro rata basis at the rate of six
paise per litre from Ist January, 2007 to 31st March, 2007; at the rate of
eight paise per litre from Ist April, 2007 to 31st May, 2007; and at the rate
of ten paise per litre from 1st June, 2007 to 31st July, 2007. The fine amount
payable by the respective CETPs shall be arrived at by multiplying the fine
amount i.e. six, eight or ten paise, as the case may be, by the total quantity
of discharge of each Member Units of CETP as per the consent certificate or as
the quantity found in the 6 application for consent and also by the total
number of working days in a month. The fine amount thus calculated shall be
paid by the respective CETPs on the last date of every month. In case the CETPs
or any of them commit any default in payment of fine, the Pollution Control
Board shall direct closure of such defaulting CETP and the Member Units and
also disconnect the power supply to such defaulting CETP and the Member Units.
(ii) The
CETPs or any of them on achieving Zero Liquid Discharge shall satisfy the
Pollution Control Board about their ZLD status and the Pollution Control Board
upon verification shall issue appropriate certificate from which date, such
CETP shall not be liable to pay the fine. In any event, if the CETPs or any of
them fail to achieve the ZLD on or before 31st July, 2007, the Pollution
Control Board shall forthwith direct closure of such CETPs and the Member Units
and also disconnect the power supply to such defaulting CETP and the Member
Units.
(b) The
respondents 4 to 7 herein are directed to deposit the balance sum of Rs.8.50
Crores out of Rs.12.50 Crores estimated by the P.W.D. towards the cleaning and
desilting operations of the Orathapalayam dam to be carried out by the Public
Works Department in two equal instalments, the first of such instalments being
payable on or before 28th of February, 2007 and the second instalment to be
paid on or before the 30th April, 2007.
(c) The
respondents 4 to 7 are directed to deposit a sum of Rs.22,99,98,548/- being the
remaining of the total compensation of Rs.24,79,98,548/- awarded by the Loss of
Ecology Authority in its Award dated 17.12.2004. This amount shall also be
payable in two equal instalments, the first of such instalments being payable
on or before the 28th 7 of February, 2007 and the second instalment to be paid
on or before the 30th of April, 2007.
(d) The
respondents 4 to 7 are further directed to deposit a sum of Rs.12 crores as an
ad-hoc compensation towards the estimated loss for the years 2005, 2006 and
2007.
This
amount shall be payable in two equal instalments, the first of such instalments
being payable on or before 15th June, 2007, and the second instalment to be
paid on or before 31st July, 2007.
..............
(q) The
Public Works Department is directed to continue with the cleaning and desilting
operations of the Orathapalayam Dam and the cleaning of the Noyyal river shall
be carried out through the petitioner association as per the orders of this
Court. The District Collector, Coimbatore is directed to release a sum of Rs.25
lakhs directly to the petitioner-Agriculturists Association towards the charges
for cleaning of the Noyyal river and the works to be carried out upto the
confluence point of the river with river Cauvery.
(r) The
respondents 1 to 3 are directed to finalise the site for dumping the solid
waste from the Orathapalayam dam as well as from the Noyyal river which has
been kept in bags and in open spaces. The Pollution Control Board is directed
to provide the infrastructure and technical expertise for removal of the solid
waste from the units as well as the dam to the notified site. The above
exercise shall be done within a period of three months.
(s) Both
the Expert Committee as well as the Monitoring Committee shall submit
periodical reports before this Court every two months.
(t) The
Monitoring Committee shall be paid a sum of Rs.15,000/- per day/per visit as
charges."
7.
The present appellant filed a Review Petition which was dismissed
vide Order dated 27.12.2007. Hence, these appeals.
8.
Shri Soli J. Sorabjee & Shri Mukul Rohtagi, learned senior
counsel appearing for the appellant have submitted that the High Court while
entertaining the Public Interest Litigation passed the impugned order imposing
a very heavy fine on the basis of pro rata @ 6 paise, 8 paise and 10 paise per
litre for the period of two months, as mentioned therein, for water discharge
from each unit amounting to several crores of rupees without any report of the
expert committee. There was no material on record on the basis of which such a
liability could be fastened on the unit owners. The calculation of
fine/compensatory expenses at such a higher rate was not based on any
scientific data and, therefore, such imposition of fines etc. cannot be held
justifiable.
More so,
the High Court ought to have allowed the Review Petition filed by the
appellant. The appellant has always been willing to safeguard the environment
and to prevent pollution and discharge of effluents into Noyyal river or
Orathapalayam 9 dam. In view of the fact that the industrial units had
undertaken to fix the R.O. plant and to achieve ZLD and it had set up 17 CETPs
investing a huge amount of about 700 crores, such onerous liability should not
have been imposed. The industrial units have already installed a pre-treatment
plant to prevent the untreated effluents to be discharged either into the river
or dam.
The High
Court failed to appreciate that there are more than 40 thousand families to
earn their livelihood on dyeing and bleaching industry. Several lakh persons
are employed in its ancillary industries who directly depend on this business
and most of them are basically the erstwhile agriculturists who could not earn
their livelihood because of the barren nature of their land and for want of
proper rain over several years. A large number of people have indulged in
transport activities because of such heavy industries in Tirupur area.
Therefore, the order impugned is liable to be set aside and appeals deserved to
be allowed.
9.
On the other hand, Dr. Rajeev Dhawan, learned senior counsel
appearing for respondent no. 1 has submitted that in 10 spite of several orders
passed by the High Court, there could have been no improvement in the
ecological set up of the area.
The
"precautionary principle" and principle of "polluter-pays" are
the integral part and parcel of national environmental law. The appellant is
bound to compensate the persons who have suffered the loss because of the
activity of its members, as water of the river is neither worth for irrigation
purpose nor potable. The members of the appellant association being responsible
for the pollution, cannot escape the responsibility of not meeting the expenses
of removing the sludge from the river and cleaning the dam and treating the
water to make it pollution free. The cost so imposed by the High Court by the
impugned order, is based on the report of the Expert Committee. In spite of the
fact that the High Court had passed several orders and extended the period from
time to time to take all possible measures to establish the RO system and
achieve ZLD, no improvement could be made. In case the said members of the
Association are not willing to achieve the pollution free atmosphere, they do
not have any right to continue with their industrial activities. The appeals
lack merit and are liable to be dismissed.
10.
Shri Abhishek Gupta, learned senior counsel appearing for the
Pollution Control Board has submitted that Pollution Control Board had taken
all measures to prevent the pollution and also inspected CETPs established by
the appellant and found that there is much improvement but has not been cured
fully. Certain steps are still required to be taken by the Association to
prevent the menace of pollution.
11.
We have considered the rival contentions made by learned counsel for
the parties and perused the record. As per the pleadings of the case, Tirupur
is the place exporting the finest garments like T-shirts, inner wears to all
foreign countries.
The
competitors are Bangladesh and China. Tirupur is an industrial hub providing
employment to 5 lakh persons. The State Government has granted Sales Tax
exemption to the units indulged in bleaching and dyeing units, considering the
importance of the place and taking into account the nature of the industries.
The country earns about 10,000/- crores in foreign exchange annually. The
industries have provided the means of livelihood to a large number of persons
indulged in transport of 12 passengers and goods in the area to the extent of
80 kilometers radius for the purpose of fetching labourers residing away from
the city and to deal with the export business.
12.
Undoubtedly, in the earlier writ petition filed by another
association for similar relief, the High Court as well as this Court dealt with
the case and disposed of the same after compliance of directions issued by the
courts. In the instant case, it is evident from the record that the High Court
issued directions from time to time but the members of the appellant
Association had complied with such orders partly. The High Court constituted an
Expert Committee and also the Monitoring Committee to assess the damage caused
to the dam and the river and to find out the modalities to remove the effect of
pollution. It also got the assessment of the amount required for removing the sludge
from the river and for the treatment of the water, making it worth for
irrigation and human consumption. So far as imposition of fine @ 6 paise per
litre and then enhancing to 8 paise and subsequently to 10 paise per litre
periodically is concerned, High Court imposed it on the basis of Award/Report
13 dated 17.12.2004 by the Expert Committee under the heading "Loss of
Ecology (Prevention and payments of compensation) by the Authority". The
Expert Committee consisted of Hon'ble Mr. Justice P. Bhaskaran, a retired judge
of Madras High Court, the Secretary of the Department of Environment,
Government of Tamil Nadu and Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board,
New Delhi as its Member and Dr. K.R. Ranganathan, former Member Secretary of
the Central Pollution Control Board.
The
Committee had taken note of all previous developments and assessed the loss to
ecology and environment in the affected area. It also identified the
individuals and families who suffered because of pollution and further determined
the amount of compensation to be paid to each affected individual or family. It
also fixed the liability for making the payment of compensation.
The award
mainly provided as under :
(a) The
Authority assessed loss to the ecology and environment in terms of use value of
the groundwater resources polluted with excessive total dissolved solids
(inorganic) utilized for irrigation as a result of the pollutional impact of
effluents discharged by textile industries located in and around Tirupur and
its vicinity falling in the Noyyal river basin. Extent of the so irrigated land
is arrived at 28,449.816 hectares in 68 14 villages comprised in Seven Taluks
or Coimbatore, Erode and Karur Districts.
(b) The
Authority identifies 28,596 individuals, affected because of the pollution as
eligible for compensation.
(c) The
authority assesses the compensation to be paid to the aforesaid individuals as
in (b) supra, at a total sum of Rs.24,79,98,548 for the period from 28.8.1996
to 31.12.2004.
..................
It is
pertinent to point out that thrust of the work for reversal is preventing
further pollution of the ground water which requires a number of cleaning
technology and treatment measures to be undertaken by the industries with their
own funds.
13.
It is evident that the High Court constituted the Monitoring
Committee consisting of technocrats and the terms of Reference had been as
under :
i) To
inspect the cluster of industrial units in and around Tirupur discharging trade
effluents either directly and indirectly into the Noyyal river and verify the
volume of the polluted water discharged into the river every day.
ii) To
inspect and quantify the polluted water stored at the Orathapalayam dam with
details as to the present condition of the sluices.
iii) To
suggest ways and means for desilting or removing the sludge that has formed in
the dam area without delay, taking advantage of the summer months.
iv) To
explore and suggest ways and means to clean the stored water and then release
the treated water in the river, by adopting any technical industrial
process,its estimated cost and the likely time, the process might take its
feasibility.
v) To
suggest an immediate action plan for remediation of Noyyal river and in
particular the Orathapalayam dam and the canals.
vi) To
suggest ways and means for preventing the discharge of polluted trade effluents
either directly or indirectly into the Noyyal river by the cluster of
industrial units in and around Tirupur during the process of cleaning the dam
area and later.
vii) To
hold discussions with the agriculturists in the area, farmers association,
Industrialists, PWD and PCB officials and the Loss of Ecology Authority,
Chennai to arrive at a solution relating to the problem as a whole.
viii) To
submit interim and final reports within the stipulated time to be fixed by this
Hon'ble Court.
ix) To
direct the Collectors of Coimbatore and Erode Districts the Pollution Control
Board and PWD officials to coordinate with the Committee and provide them
necessary transport and other logistic requirements for carrying out their
work.
x) To
meet specialists having knowledge on public health relating to pollution, their
cause and effect and possible preventive measures.
16 It
was, in fact, the Monitoring Committee in its memo dated 12th July, 2005 made
various suggestions before the High Court regarding establishment of CETPs and
gave costs for various operations and one of the recommendations read as under:
"Apart
from the earlier recommendation of the Committee that no CETP which had not
achieved financial closure and deposited monies should be permitted to reopen
till financial closure is achieved and monies deposited, the Committee further
recommends that all CETPs deposit the entire project cost within a period of 2
weeks (after adjusting the money spent by them towards the works in progress).
If the
units do not so deposit, the Committee recommends that they be shut down. The
Committee reiterates the fact that all CETPs ought to have commissioned their
RO system by today, if not much earlier, if their earlier undertakings were
taken into account.
Apart
from the condition on deposit of the entire project cost (minus the monies
actually spent), the member units of all CETPs should be subject to a fine of
at least 10 paise per litre of effluent generated (subjected to a minimum of
Rs.10,000 per lakh litres of effluent as reflected in the consent) at least
from the Ist of August, 2006." (emphasis added)
14.
The Monitoring Committee vide its memo dated 19th July 2006,
submitted the Report before the High Court. It also appears from the record
that for the purpose of inspection of CETPs the High Court vide order dated 1st
August, 2005 17 constituted a Committee consisting of three lawyers namely Mr. T.
Mohan, Mr. S. Thangavel and Mr. M.M. Sundaresh, making the terms of reference
as under :
(1) To
arrive at time frame within which R.O. plants are commenced and completed in
consultation with industries, their consultants and suppliers.
(2) To
consult with the expert committee constituted by this court earlier or any
member thereof on what measurable required to achieve zero discharge and
eliminate pollutants in the effluent through adoption of clean production
measures.
(3) To
monitor the implementation of reverse osmosis plants and related facilities to
deal with R.O. rejects.
(4) To
inspect the industries, IETPs and CETPs at periodic intervals with or without
prior notice and report to this court on the progress made.
The said
Committee also submitted the reports from time to time. The High Court has
passed the impugned order after considering the aforesaid reports also.
15.
In Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action vs. Union of India
(1996) 3 SCC 212, this Court ruled that once the industrial activities carried
out are found to be hazardous or inherently dangerous, the person carrying on
such activities are liable to make good the loss caused to any other person by
his activity 18 irrespective of the fact whether he took reasonable care while
carrying out his industrial or commercial activities. Therefore, the polluting
industries are absolutely liable to compensate for the harm caused by it to
villagers or other affected persons of the area, to the soil and to the
underground water and hence, the industry is bound to take all necessary
measures to prevent degradation of environment and also to remove sludge and
other pollutants lying in the affected area. As the liability of the polluter
is absolute for harm to the environment it extends not only to the victims of
pollution but also to meet the cost of restoring the pollution free
environment.
16.
In Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India AIR 1996 SC
2715; this Court considered various constitutional provisions including
Articles 47, 48-A, 51-A(g) and came to the conclusion that it is the duty of
the State to protect and preserve the ecology, as Article 21 of the
Constitution guarantees protection of life and personal liberty and every
person has a right to pollution free atmosphere. Therefore, the
"precautionary principle" and the "polluter-pays" principle
have been accepted 19 as a part of the law of the land being the part of
environmental law of the country.
17.
Similar view has been reiterated in People's Union for Civil
Liberties vs. Union of India and Another (1997) 3 SCC 433; AP Pollution Control
Board vs. Prof. M.V. Nayudu AIR 1999 SC 812;
and M.C.
Mehta vs. Union of India (2001) 9 SCC 142, observing that environment and
ecology are national assets. They are subject to inter-generational equity. The
sustainable development principle is a part of Articles 21, 48-A and 51-A(g) of
the Constitution of India.
18.
In M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India (2004)12 SCC 118, this Court
explained the scope of "precautionary principle"
observing
that it requires anticipatory action to be taken to prevent harm. The harm can
be prevented even on a reasonable suspicion. It is not always necessary that
there should be direct evidence of harm to the environment. The concept of
"sustainable development" has been explained that it covers the
development that meets the needs of the person without 20 compromising the
ability of the future generation to meet their own needs. It means the
development, that can take place and which can be sustained by nature/ecology
with or without mitigation. Therefore, in such matters, the required standard
is that the risk of harm to the environment or to human health is to be decided
in public interest, according to a "reasonable person's" test. The
development of the industries, irrigation resources and power projects are
necessary to improve employment opportunities and generations of revenue;
therefore, cannot be ignored. In such eventuality, a balance has to be struck,
for the reason that if the activity is allowed to go, there may be irreparable
damage to the environment and there may be irreparable damage to the economic
interest.
A Similar
view has been reiterated by this Court in T.N. Godavaram Thirumulpad (104) vs.
U.O.I. & Ors. (2008) 2 SCC 222; and M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India &
Ors. (2009) 6 SCC 142.
19.
In case in spite of stringent conditions, degradation of
environment continues and reaches a stage of no return, the court may consider
the closure of industrial activities in areas where there is such a risk. The
authorities also have to take into consideration the macro effect of wide scale
land and environmental degradation caused by absence of remedial measures. The
right to information and community participation for protection of environment
and human health is also a right which flows from Article 21 (vide Bombay
Dyeing & Mfg. Co. Ltd. SC 1489; T.N. Godavaram Thirumulpad vs. UOI and
Others (2002) 10 SCC 606; Research Foundation for Science Technology Natural
Resource Policy vs. UOI & Ors (2005) 10 SCC 510; N.D. Jayal & Anr. vs.
UOI & Ors. AIR 2004 SC 867; M.C. Mehta vs. Kamal Nath AIR 2002 SC 1515;
Mrs. Susetha vs. State of Tamil Nadu & Ors. AIR 2006 SC 2893).
20.
The correctness of the impugned order is to be tested on the basis
of the aforesaid settled legal propositions. This 22 Court vide order dated
18.5.2007 stayed the impugned order of the High Court only to the extent that
the directions to close down the industries would not be given effect to from
31.7.2007.
This
Order has been extended from time to time. On 10 th August, 2007, this Court
directed the members of the petitioners' association to deposit a sum of Rs.25
crores within a period of six weeks before the High Court and further to file
an affidavit as what progress has been made in respect of the CETPs and
treatment plants. This Court vide order dated 12.5.09, directed the Board to
inspect the Noyyal River and find out whether any pollution is caused by the
factories owned by the members of the appellant Association and file a report
on or before 27.7.09.
21.
The Inspection Committee constituted by the Board made following
observations during inspections on 8.7.2009 and 9.7.2009:
(A) There
is no flow of surface water in the upstream side of Agrahara Puthur road bridge
(S1) across the Noyyal River and it was found dry during inspection on 8.7.2009
and 9.7.2009 with isolated ponding of small quantity of water.
(B) Flow
of water was observed in Noyyal River at the stretch of Tiruppur Town where
Bleaching and Dyeing units are located and downstream at Orathupalayam Dam.
(C) Along
with the primary treated effluent from existing bleaching and dyeing units,
domestic effluent from Tiruppur Corporation [Formerly Tiruppur Municipality],
Nallur Municipality and other villages located along the banks of Noyyal River
is discharged into Noyyal River, which also contributes to the flow in the
River and organic pollution load.
(D) In
the entire stretch of Noyyal River falling in the jurisdiction of Tiruppur
Corporation and Nallur Municipality, Municipal Solid wastes are being dumped
along the River itself, which also contributes to the pollution load in Noyyal.
The
impact of industrial pollution on river is revealed by the presence of high pH
(alkalinity), very high Total Dissolved solids (TDS), excess chloride (C1 ) and
percent sodium (%Na). Also Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen
Demand (COD) are not at an acceptable level. Moreover, the dark red colour of
the water in the River Noyyal, was seen during inspection.
22.
In pursuance of the order of this Court dated 27.07.09, the said
Inspection Committee again inspected the 17 CETPs in Tirupur during 3.8.2009
and 4.8.2009 and submitted the Report.
The 17
CETPs had paid only Rs. 17,22,46,031/- (Rupees seventeen crores twenty two lacs
forty six thousands and thirty one only) as against Rs.55,60,96,848/- (Rupees
fifty five crores sixty lacs ninty six thousands eight hundred and forty eight
only). This total sum has been arrived at on the basis of number of working
days multiplied by the daily consented quantity/applied quantity of effluent of
member units, leaving a balance to be remitted as Rs.38,38,50,817/- (Rupees
thirty eight crores thirty eight lacs fifty thousand eight hundred and
seventeen only). The appellant has deposited a sum of Rs.25 crores in the High
Court of Madras as per the direction of this Court dated 10.8.2007.
23.
Some of the member units of the CETPs have obtained the consent of
the Board in accordance with law. Some of them have applied to the Tamilnadu
Pollution Control Board for consent, 25 but consent was not issued to them in
view of the provisions of the G.O.Ms.No.213 Environment and Forests (EC-1)
Department dated 30.3.1989 and G.O.Ms. No.127.
24.
With regard to the technical aspect, Inspection Committee
submitted that among the 17 CETPs, 11 CETPs have completed 90% to 97% works
relating to the ZLD system. The remaining minor works to be completed related
to the establishment of an adequate Solar Evaporation Pan area, considering the
evaporation rate as 4.5 mm per sq.m. per day.
The other
3 CETPs have completed above 90% of the works relating to the ZLD system. The
remaining works to be completed related to the establishment of adequate Solar
Evaporation Pan area and loading of the membranes into the RO module, etc.
25.
The remaining 3 CETPs have completed below 80% of work relating to
the ZLD systems. The remaining percentage of works 26 to be completed relates
to the establishment of adequate Solar Evaporation Pan area, Boiler,
Crystallizer, loading of the membranes into the RO module, etc.
26.
In view of the above fact that this matter is pending before this
Court for more than two and a half years and the members of the appellant
Association had been permitted to continue their business, it is desirable that
the members of the appellant Association should ensure the compliance of all
the directions including the payment of dues etc. issued by the Court within a
period of three months from today. They shall ensure that no pollution is
caused to the river or dam and if cleaning operation has not yet been
completed, it shall be completed within the said stipulated period.
27.
Undoubtedly, there has been unabated pollution by the members of
the appellant Association. They cannot escape the responsibility to meet out
the expenses of reversing the ecology.
They are
bound to meet the expenses of removing the sludge of 27 the river and also for
cleaning the dam. The principles of "polluters-pay" and
"precautionary principle" have to be read with the doctrine of
"sustainable development". It becomes the responsibility of the
members of the appellant Association that they have to carry out their
industrial activities without polluting the water. A large number of farmers
have suffered because of the pollution caused by them. They could not cultivate
any crop in the said land. The committee had made a complete survey and
assessed the loss and identified the families which are entitled to
compensation. This Court only stayed the operation of the direction of the High
Court to the extent that the units of the members of the appellant Association
would be closed on 31st July, 2007. The said interim order has been extended
from time to time. None of the other directions have been interfered with.
A period
of more than two and a half year has been passed.
Many
steps have been taken but the Association has to ensure the compliance of the
orders passed by the High Court fully and in order to do, it is desirable that
the Association be giving three months time to ensure compliance of directions
to make the CETPs functional and pay the balance amount for cleaning the 28 dam
and river and meet the compensation to the adversely affected persons within a
period of three months from today. The Pollution Control Board is directed to
ensure that no pollution is caused, giving strict adherence, to the statutory
provisions.
28.
The appeals stand disposed of accordingly.
.....................................CJI. (K.G. Balakrishnan)
.........................................J. (Dr. B.S. Chauhan)
New Delhi;
October 6, 2009.
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