Gujarat high court on Wednesday sought an explanation from the state government and the authorities concerned over a PIL that complained about heavy air and water pollution around the Kharicut canal in eastern Ahmedabad, particularly concerning the illegal release of industrial gases at night.
A division bench of Chief Justice R S Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi issued notices to the state government, Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation(AMC), Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) and the Green Environment Cooperative Society, which was formed to curb pollution and mitigate its effects on the people living near the industrial areas of eastern Ahmedabad.
Citing a news report published in the Times of India in October, four petitioners complained that the illegal release of gases by industrial units and waste chemicals by tankers is prevalent in the areas along the Kharicut canal.
This has become a regular practice these days and the common people suffer a lot because of these illegalities. The petitioner cited examples of people who suffered due to one such gas leak a couple of months ago. It contended that as the gas is released at night, most people do not learn about the illegality and the crime goes unreported.
