DIGVIJAYSINH PARBATSINH RANA Vs. STATE OF GUJARAT

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By way of this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has prayed for an appropriate Writ, order or direction, directing the respondent authorities, more particularly, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (hereinafter referred to as "the GPCB" for short) to ensure that the usage of coal gacifiers by the ceramic industries in the Morbi area which cause air and water pollution is discontinued.

(2.) It is the case on behalf of the petitioner that the ceramic industries of Morbi District represented by respondent No.6 are causing irreversible damage to the environment - both water and air environment owing to their illegal manufacturing techniques/ practices, more particularly, by using coal gacifiers. It is the case on behalf of the petitioner that there were complaints filed before this Court and subsequently also before the National Green Tribunal (West Zone), Pune ("NGT" for short) which, upon having taken cognizance, had also directed the closure of such industries which are said to have caused alarming damage to the environment, despite of which there is no stopping to the illegal acts of such industries.

(3.) The present petition was heard by this Court on 19.04.2018. This Court directed to issue notice upon the respondents. This Court directed that on the returnable date, a responsible officer from the office of the GPCB to state on affidavit what further steps are taken by it to carry out the directions issued by the National Green Tribunal, Western Zone Bench, Pune, dated 14.11.2017, in O.A. No.20/2017 (WZ) and O.A. No.42/2017 (WZ).