AHMEDABAD: In order to protect the Saraswati river from becoming a dumping ground, the Gujarat high court on Friday directed the Sidhpur municipality to stop dumping its solid waste in the river and threatened to supersede the municipal body, if dumping in the riverbed continues.
Acting on a PIL against the municipality’s dumping of 10 metric tonnes (MT) of solid waste every day in the river, the bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice VD Nanavati observed that Sidhpur municipality has caused substantial damage to the river. It is not possible in scientific manner to repair the damage done.
The court issued orders to clean the river and ensure that further damage is not caused.
Beside ordering the municipality to stop dumping in the river, the HC directed Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to depute a team to survey the area and submit a report on its condition. The GPCB has been directed to keep close watch on the municipality’s disposal of solid waste and the Patan district collector was ordered to ensure there not be any further pollution in the Saraswati.
The court ordered the municipality to send its solid waste for dumping to land allotted by the government as a landfill site, and said that not even a morsel should be dumped in the river.
The high court posed a query to the municipality how it proposes to shift the waste to the dumping site from the river. The court has also questioned GPCB what steps it has taken against the erring officials of the municipality. With regard to daily dumping of solid waste, the high court said that the municipality has committed an offense under the Water Act and other laws to curb pollution. A further hearing has been posted for March 25.
Acting on a PIL against the municipality’s dumping of 10 metric tonnes (MT) of solid waste every day in the river, the bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice VD Nanavati observed that Sidhpur municipality has caused substantial damage to the river. It is not possible in scientific manner to repair the damage done.
The court issued orders to clean the river and ensure that further damage is not caused.
Beside ordering the municipality to stop dumping in the river, the HC directed Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) to depute a team to survey the area and submit a report on its condition. The GPCB has been directed to keep close watch on the municipality’s disposal of solid waste and the Patan district collector was ordered to ensure there not be any further pollution in the Saraswati.
The court ordered the municipality to send its solid waste for dumping to land allotted by the government as a landfill site, and said that not even a morsel should be dumped in the river.
The high court posed a query to the municipality how it proposes to shift the waste to the dumping site from the river. The court has also questioned GPCB what steps it has taken against the erring officials of the municipality. With regard to daily dumping of solid waste, the high court said that the municipality has committed an offense under the Water Act and other laws to curb pollution. A further hearing has been posted for March 25.
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