Criminal cases filed against special purpose vehicles of dyeing industry
Two criminal cases have been filed in the courts of Ludhiana district by the Punjab Pollution Control Board against two Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) of the dyeing industry and their directors.
These SPVs are registered under the Punjab Dyers’ Association and Bahadurke Textile and Knitwear Association. The cases have been filed under different sections of the Water Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Kuldeep Singh Khaira of Kale Pani Da Morcha said, “This action was necessitated when the Central Pollution Control Board directed the Punjab Pollution Control Board to take appropriate action against the SPVs for violation of the conditions of their Environment Clearance issued in 2013 and 2014.”
“The PPCB then issued directions to close the outlets of all three common effluent treatment plants as well as revoked their consent to operate for the serious violations of their environment clearance,” Khaira said.
Another member of the Kale Pani Da Morcha, Kapil Arora, said, “The next dates of hearing in the criminal cases are November 4 and 5 in Ludhiana courts. The PPCB has apparently moved criminal case against only two SPVs at the moment due to some technicality.”
“They are in the process of filing the same against the third one as well, which may happen in the next week. Their appeal against the orders of the PPCB to close the outlets of CETPs falling into the Buddha Dariya is also listed in the NGT on November 4. So the next week is going to be very crucial in this battle of rejuvenating Buddha Dariya,” Arora said.
Jaskirat Singh of the organisation expressed disbelief, saying, “It is unbelievable that all the three CETPs are in operation and spewing effluent into the Buddha Dariya at full swing despite the unambiguous orders from the Punjab Pollution Control Board to stop the same immediately more than a month ago.”
“If the governments are unable to stop them despite clear cut orders from the CPCB and the PPCB, then what options do people have other than getting into street fights to save themselves and their children from their toxic water that they are forced to drink?” Singh asked.
