The Telangana High Court directed the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) to ascertain if it had complied with the National Green Tribunal’s orders for closure of a private food processing company-cum-abattoir in Zaheerabad.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justice A. Rajasheker Reddy sought to know from the TSPCB counsel precisely if it had followed the NGT’s order in toto. As the counsel could not immediately present facts, the bench asked the lawyer to come back with full information, posting the matter to next week.
The direction was given while hearing the writ petition filed by M/s Frigerio Conserva Allana Private Limited which was into food processing at Algole village of Zaheerabad. It was commissioned with an installed capacity of finished frozen meat of 80 tonnes per day. After 11 years, it started a modern abattoir and eventually expanded its capacity.
Following a letter written by one K. Lakshma Reddy, the NGT principal bench at Delhi passed an order with nearly 15 directions. Challenging the NGT order, the company moved High Court. When the bench reminded its counsel that appeal over NGT had to be moved in Supreme Court as per Section 22 of the NGT Act, the counsel contended that the order was against principles of natural justice. Consenting to hear the matter, the bench said it wanted to ensure that the company followed all interim directions given by the NGT including closure of the plant’s outlets releasing effluents. When the company counsel submitted that it did so, the bench asked for confirmation from the TSPCB counsel, who sought time.
Source: The Hindu
