Baddi groundwater: HP High Court makes pollution board party in PIL
Shimla, July 17
The HP High Court has impleaded Regional Director, Central Ground Water Board, State Ground Water Authority and Central Pollution Control Board, Hydrological Department, I&PH and Secretary, Department of Environment, as party respondents in the PIL pertaining to issue of groundwater pollution in Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh.
A division Bench comprising Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Satyen Vaidya passed this order after perusing the status report filed by the State Pollution Control Board wherein it has suggested that to combat the problem of ground water contamination it is desirable to implead them as party in this PIL.
While impleading them as party, the court further directed the Chief Secretary to coordinate with the said parties and take appropriate steps. It further directed him to request the IIT Mandi to provide technical expertise to the HP State Pollution Control Board.
During the course of hearing, the Deputy Advocate General has also placed before the court the affidavit of the Chief Executive Officer, Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Development Authority. It revealed that as per the minutes of the meeting held on July 2, 2024, under the chairpersonship of Joint Chief Executive Officer of the said authority for preparation of action plan to address the ground water contamination issue in the above area the CEO, Baddi Infra, will provide a list of industries that are not connected to CETP, Kenduwal. The Chief Environmental Engineer, PCB, Baddi, will inspect these industries and ensure their connection to CETP, Kenduwal.
The court passed this order while hearing a PIL highlighting the pollution related problems in the industrial belt of the state. A study undertaken by the research team revealed significant health risks posed by contaminated groundwater due to geogenic uranium and industrial pollutants such as zinc, lead, cobalt, nickel, and chromium. — OC
Cancer-causing pollutants found
The court passed this order while hearing a PIL highlighting the pollution related problems in the industrial belt of the state. Recently, a research team of the IIT Mandi has found cancer-causing pollutants in groundwater in Baddi–Barotiwala industrial area
