Court seeks report from AMC, GPCB

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat high court on Friday sought a report from the civic body and Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) about the polluted environment and difficulty faced by Ranip residents due to the dirty Chandrabhaga river.
Acting on a PIL, the bench of Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala issued notices to the state government, health department and environment and forest department.The high court also permitted petitioners to make the Central Pollution Control Board and Radhaswami Satsang parties to the proceedings.
This was permitted after the petitioners' counsel Trusha Patel contended that the religious outfit has put up a compound wall and encroached on the river, which results in blockage.
The lawyer brought it to court's notice that solid waste is being dumped in the ravines of the Chandrabhaga at Ranip and the river carries polluted water from upstream - from Tragad, Kaligam and Chainpur villages. The dumped waste and polluted stream have created the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The petitioners - residents of Ninjaripunj Co-operative Housing Society claim that they have to suffer due to this environmental pollution. The administration hasn't heeded their repeated requests.
The PIL has also highlighted that due to garbage dumping, the stream has been obstructed and with percolation of dirty water, the area now does not have potable drinking water. A further hearing has been scheduled for April 25.