HC asks JSW to approach state pollution control board

Bombay High Court has recently directed JSW Steel to make a fresh application before Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for setting up a new plant at Tarapur, Palghar district. This comes after National Green Tribunal (NGT) turned down the company’s plea to set up the plant.

The company had approached a Division Bench presided over by Justice Vidyasagar Kanade and Justice Chandrashekar Bhadang. The company contended that the NGT has rejected their plea earlier on various grounds.

During hearing, the Bench was informed that the NGT through its order dated July 2, 2015 had imposed an embargo and directed the MPCB not to grant any permission to establish or expand any plant without obtaining prior consent from it.

The Bench, however, considered the fact that the Division Bench headed by the then Chief Justice Mohit Shah, in August 2015 had modified the order of NGT.

The Bench had then held that if an industrial unit seeking to expand or set up a new plant gives an undertaking that there is zero liquid discharge and takes no objection from the MIDC, permission can be granted by MPCB. Justice Shah had also clarified the permission from NGT is not required and it should only be given intimation.

After hearing the company, Justice Kanade said, “In our view, the entire controversy can be resolved if the company is directed to make a fresh application for grant of consent or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to establish the new plant.”

“We, accordingly, direct the said company to make an application to MPCB seeking grant of consent or a NOC to establish a new plant within a period of two weeks. The NOC shall be strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981,” Justice Kanade added.

The Bench also said rules pertaining to having zero liquid discharge for the proposed unit in the Tarapur industrial area must be complied with. “The company shall also ensure that this application is in compliance with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines framed on March 31, 2016,” the Bench added.

Shops selling fake watches

Matunga police conducted a raid on two shops for selling fake watches at Matunga (E) on Saturday. Twelve watches worth Rs 2,700 each were recovered by the police. A raid was conducted at Shop number 1 and 2 at Satyam shop at LN road. The raid was conducted under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector BM Kakad and Senior Police Inspector Dilip Thorat of Mumbai crime branch.

According to the Senior Police Inspector, BM Kakad, Matunga police station, “Twelve watches worth Rs 30,400 have been recovered. A First Information Report has been registered under the Copyright Act, 1957. No arrest has been made in this case.” Staff Reporter