Court sought State’s response in PIL filed to monitor pollution caused by wood-based industries: Rajasthan High Court
The High Court of Rajasthan, through learned judges, Chief Justice Govind Mathur Justice Ajai Kumar Srivastava in the case of Uday Educare And Welfare Trust (PIL No. – 704 of 2021) sought the State’s response in a PIL filed to monitor pollution caused by wood-based industries.
BRIEF FACTS: The petitioner raised an important issue related to high degree pollution in the National Capital Region that also comprised eight prominent districts of the State of Uttar Pradesh in addition to the districts of the State of Haryana and Rajasthan. According to the petitioner, the National Capital and the adjacent NCR was a highly polluted part of the land and with enormous pollution mainly due to unbridled and unplanned settlement of population and establishment of pollution causing industries.
FINDINGS OF THE COURT: It was brought to the court’s notice that a huge concentration of wood based industries, including saw-mills were being established in NCR by way of transfer from other districts of the State of Uttar Pradesh.. Rule 7 of the The Rajasthan Forest Produce (Establishment and Regulation of Saw Mills) Rules, 1983 prescribed that relocation of saw mills outside the district where it was already established was not permitted in any case. In absence of any such provision or policy, pollution causing wood-based industries, including saw-mills were concentrated in NCR. Having considered all facts of the case, the court deemed it appropriate to have adequate response to the petition for writ on behalf of the respondent (State). Thereby the court sought the state’s response.
JUDGEMENT REVIEWED BY – AMRUTHA K