| Jammu, Dec 13: In a PIL filed against the setting up of an industrial unit at Sohawara near Kunjwani here, a high court division bench of chief justice M M Kumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan today directed pollution control board (PCB) secretary to file an additional affidavit within three weeks. According to the PIL, filed by one Attar Singh, Sarveshwar Overseas has set up an industrial unit at Sohawara, a residential area. The PIL said that Sohawara is exclusively a residential area and has not declared as an industrial area. It has been submitted in the PIL that the industrial set up is causing air and water pollution in the locality. The bench observed that in the objections filed by it, PCB has submitted that the Rice Shelling Industry of M/s Sarveshwar Overseas at Sohawara, has been granted permission by it and the industrial department with effect from April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2016. The bench observed that PCB had taken the stand that some scattered houses were located across the approach road of the unit which were not affected by the operation of the unit. Therefore, it is a conceded fact that the industry was in the vicinity of the residential area. The PCB had failed to disclose the parameters for setting up industries by providing the distance between the residential area and the industries, national/state highways and the industry or any other parameters. These parameters are in operation in all the states which have been framed under the Pollution Control Act, 1986, and directed that an additional affidavit be filed by PCB secretary, clarifying the aforesaid position within three weeks. (JNF) |
