AP, Pollution board told to submit report on measures

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, April 17: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday directed the state government and the AP Pollution Control Board to file a report on the implementation of Supreme Court directions with regard to pollution control measures in Patancheru industrial area. While dealing with a batch of writ petitions, a division bench comprising Justice B. Prakash Rao and C.Y. Somayajulu expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in the implementation of the Apex court orders.
The Supreme court monitored the pollution control measures in this area for over a decade and then issued directions in 1998 fixing standards regarding pollutants and hydraulic load for each unit. The bench also expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of government counsel for the hearing .
Justice Prakash Rao said "Do you need a red carpet welcome with a shahnai? Don’t you feel the responsibility to be present in the court when the bench is hearing such an important public interest issue?"
The bench asked the state government and the pollution control board to inform the court what they did to control pollution in the area. The government has been asked to inform what remedial measures have been taken so far for the citizens in the area suffering with geo chemical diseases.
Mr P. Niroop, Supreme Court advocate who appeared on behalf of the local farmers, urged the court to direct the industries in the Patancheru industrial area to deposit Rs 100 crore for the safety of the people residing in the areas.