HC issues notice to firm over dumping of industrial waste
Expressing serious concern over the issue of open dumping of industrial waste in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh belt, the HP High Court has issued notice to a private company, directing it to start restoration and rehabilitation work of the damaged area near the Ratta river.
A Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Satyen Vaidya, passed this order after perusing the affidavit filed by the Chief Environmental Engineer, HP State Pollution Control Board, informing therein that unit M/s Indo Farm and Tractor Unit-II was not disposing of its foundry and shot-blasting waste at an authorised facility. The waste found dumped in open, near the Ratta river, matches the waste generated by the unit.
In his suggestions, the Chief Environmental Engineer has said that the Department of Industries should be directed to install CCTV cameras in the area to maintain strict vigilance to prevent such incidents in the future, besides closing all access points to the Ratta river and fencing the area to prevent illegal dumping of waste.
On this, the court directed the Director of Industries to file his personal affidavit regarding the aforesaid suggestions by the next date of hearing and listed the matter for further hearing on January 8.
While passing this direction, the court observed that “the Superintendent of Police, Baddi, has not been able to satisfy this Court as to why the FIR in the instant case was not lodged despite the Superintendent of Police being put to caveat by the Court as is evident from the order passed on November, 12.”
On this, Baddi SP Vinod Kumar, who was present before the court, sought one week to file his personal affidavit explaining the circumstances under which the FIR was not registered up till November, 26.
