Action against three Karanj textile groups

SURAT: Anti-pollution laws will finally be applied to three textile groups of Karanj - Reliable Poster, Ruchi Twister and Jindal Filaments - which have not only polluted the air and water but also damaged farms by releasing untreated effluent.
A co-ordination committee comprising a district sessions judge, district collector and an official from the local office of Gujarat Pollution Control board (GPCB) decided to constitute a six-member committee and take stern action against the trio.This is for the first time that such proactive action has been taken by authorities.
"These units located near Karanj in Mangrol taluka have been acting in a criminally irresponsible manner and causing a lot of harm to the environment. Our co-ordination committee, constituted on the basis of a Supreme Court judgment, has decided to penalise these units," said district collector A J Shah.
"Now, based on the report of the committee to assess the damage caused, these units will be asked to compensate for harm to farm land. Moreover as these activities have degraded the environment, it will also be assessed how much harm have caused in general and they will also have to pay a compensation for this too," he said.
GPCB had received a complaint from local farmer Jayram Patel that six industries located in the area had been releasing untreated effluent in open land. Three of the six industries in question set up their effluent treatment plants where the other three continued releasing untreated effluents.
A six-member committee, which is to assess the amount of damage, consists of regional officer of GPCB, district agriculture officer, executive engineer of irrigation department, mamlatdar of Mandvi taluka, forest officer and sarpanch of Karanj village.
"This six-member committee will assess the damage and amount, will take necessary statements and gather evidence and will submit its report to the district court in a span of 45 days. Based on the report, action will be taken against the units that caused air and water pollution along with harm to the farm land," said a GPCB official.
"This sort of irresponsible behaviour gives the region a bad name on national level and it could lead to heavy punishment for all. We want to avoid that scenario and so will act proactively," said Shah.