The Chhattisgarh High Court has recently disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the improper disposal of industrial waste in Sirgitti industrial area of Bilaspur district.
The court took suo motu cognizance of the matter based on a news item published in a Hindi newspaper on December 25, 2024.
The news item highlighted the failure of the Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC) and the Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur, to dispose of industrial waste properly, resulting in environmental pollution.
The waste, generated from 300 industrial units in the area, was being dumped in the open and eaten by cattle.
The court directed the Secretary, Department of Urban Administration and Development, Government of Chhattisgarh, to file a personal affidavit explaining the actions taken by the authorities to address the issue.
The affidavit stated that an agreement had been executed between the CSIDC and the Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur, for the collection, transportation, and disposal of industrial waste.
However, the agreement had expired, and no further action had been taken.
The court also directed the Chairman, Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB), to file an affidavit.
The affidavit stated that the CECB had issued directions to 152 industries in the Sirgitti industrial area to store, transport, and dispose of industrial waste in accordance with applicable rules.
The CECB had also levied environment compensation on four industries found to be in violation of consent conditions.
The Managing Director, CSIDC, filed an affidavit stating that the CSIDC had entered into an agreement with the Municipal Corporation, Bilaspur, for the collection, transportation, and disposal of industrial waste.
The affidavit also stated that one Waste Management Pvt Ltd had been set up to dispose of industrial waste and that the plant had been granted Consent to Operate (CTO) by the CECB.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, after considering the affidavits and submissions made by the parties, disposed of the PIL, observing that sufficient and concrete measures had been taken by the authorities to address the issue.
The court hoped and trusted that the authorities would continue to take necessary steps to ensure the proper disposal of industrial waste and protect the environment.