M C MEHTA Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Hot Mix Plants which were treated as hazardous industries have since been closed with effect from 20th of February, 1997 in pursuance of the Order dated 10-10-1996 passed by this Court in I. A. No. 22 in Writ Petition (C) No. 4677 of 1985 (M. C. Mehta v. Union of India and others) since reported in 1997 (1) Scale (SP) 31.

(2.) The Airports Authority of India at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi has filed this application for permission to instal Hot Mix Plants in the vicinity of IGI airport for a period of one year for resurfacing of the runways for the safe landing and take off of domestic and international aircrafts and for smooth handling of aircraft traffic. It is indicated in this application that the resurfacing of the main runway was last done in the year 1990-91 while the resurfacing of the secondary runways was carried out in 1998. It is further stated that due to the constant use of these runways by the ever-increasing traffic, both domestic and international, cracks have developed in the runways and due to the wear and tear of the surface of the runways, certain areas of the runways are showing signs of distress all of which require immediate resurfacing. It is further stated in this application as under :

(3.) The Airports Authority of India also set out the following undertakings with which, it said, it would bind itself :-