HC tells petitioner to name polluting cement mix firms

Responding to a petition seeking removal of heavy crushers and cement ready-mix concrete industries in and around Vattinagulapally village in Gandipet mandal in Ranga Reddy district, which was allegedly causing air and groundwater pollution in violation of G.O. 111, the Telangana High Court on Tuesday made it clear to the petitioners that it also wants to hear the contention of the industries.

G.O. 111 prohibits polluting industries with a 10-km radius of Himayatsagar and Osmansagar.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy was dealing with a PIL filed by one Marri Gopal Reddy contending that the pollution caused by the industries was playing havoc with the lives of people living in the area. The situation was becoming worse with the dumping of waste materials by the industries, the petition said.

The court refused to proceed with the petition because of the industries and the Pollution Control Board were not made respondents.

Justice Chauhan said, “If, tomorrow, the industries which are alleged to have been creating air pollution and groundwater pollution inform the court that they do possess valid permissions issued by the PCB and other departments, then any orders passed by the court will be futile. Hence, the court directs the petitioner to implead the owners of the polluting industries as respondents to the PIL.”