Govt promises HC to shift Sangrur carcass ground within 24 hours

CHANDIGARH : The Punjab government has promised to shift carcass ground (Hadda Rori) in Bakhora Khurd locality of Sangrur within 24 hours.

An assurance was given in this regard by state’s counsel before the high court bench of justices SN Satyanarayana and Archana Puri on Tuesday.

The assurance was made as court observed that it was convinced that contempt proceedings are required to be initiated against secretary, state rural development department, deputy commissioner of Sangrur, sub-divisional magistrate, Lehragaga, and local gram panchayat head, who, it said are hand in glove in trying to defeat the order passed in September in which 10 days’ time was given to local authorities to take action on representation of a school and locals to remove the carcass ground.

During the hearing on Tuesday, Punjab Pollution Control Board told court that after a visit by the PPCB chairman, the authorities concerned have been asked to shift the carcass ground. On the other hand, state’s counsel was “singing a different tune” and raised issue of maintainable of the plea and also argued that Hadda Rori was in existence since 1960, and the school was constructed in the year 2007, therefore, it need not be shifted. The court took serious note of the submission by state’s counsel and was about to initiate contempt proceedings against officials, at which point the counsel assured that it will be shifted within 24 hours.

It was in this case in September that the court was about to order deputy commissioner, Punjab Pollution Control Board chief and sub-divisional magistrate to live in a tent at carcass ground for 15 days. But the order was not passed on assurance of state’s counsel.