AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court was alarmed when told that the waste is treated in sewage treatment plants and industrial waste processing trade in the city sewage treatment plant, and the court commented that this is a very sorry state of affairs and call for suggestions to improve the situation.
This happened during the hearing suo motu PIL in connection with the persecution in Pirana STP wastewater and water discharge is not properly treated at the Sabarmati river, causing pollution in it.
The amicus curie Hemang Shah submit inspection reports and advice and environmental activist Rohit Prajapati also presented the findings on behalf of the joint task force (JTF) established by the high court to arrest the pollution of the river.
Prajapati stated that the sewage treatment plant, which is intended to process industrial waste, get wastewater treatment and sewage flowing into the STP of the same trade.
This situation causes no function of both types of treatment plants and as a result only 10-20% of the water will be treated before being discharged directly into the river.
He also said that it can be said that the contaminated water will be discharged into the river.
A bench of Justice B V D Pardiwala and Justice Nanavati repeatedly questioned the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) on how many illegal connections have been identified and action is taken against the perpetrators.
“What’s coming your way? Are you afraid of someone? Do some strength work against you that you are so bashful in taking positive action? If you feel that stern action will evoke tears, let the cry raised.
You owe it to the community, to the people, with your legal obligations, “the court said civil authorities.
The judges went on to say, “Today, the day is not far that we must take steps that are very hard.
You may not like it.
We give you the chance to fix it, to stop this nonsense.
Why do you not act positively? ” Prajapati submitted that the treatment plant is not functioning properly and there is no monitoring system.
He suggested that while civilian body may outsource functions treatment plants, do not have to outsource part of the monitoring.
He and advocate Shah complained about the poor level of skills of the engineers involved in the monitoring and operation of the plant.
It was also submitted that there is no system to monitor the outflow of water treated and reading notes about the quality of water is questionable because they do not accurately and repeatedly.
amicus complained of improper functioning of the laboratory attached to the processing plant.
The court said that it would order the suspension of the officer in-charge of the laboratory.
Prajapati insist that there must be a plan for 30-40 years in dealing with the issue and asserted that the river damage has been done.
For this, the high court said, “You do not lose heart.
We will try our best to convince all.
“The court has posted further hearing on this issue in December and said that it would pass an interim order.
Hold everyone accountable to stop river pollution During the hearing, amicus curie Hemang Shah and Rohit Prajapati JTF members insisted on the presence of chief secretary and commissioner of Ahmedabad city in court because they are provided with specific responsibility for the enforcement of roadside pollution.
For this, the judge said, “We asked the commissioner of the city, if he watched this trial on livestreaming, to hold each person accountable for this.
Accountability is something that will make progress in this regard.
We do not expect the Sabarmati water as clean as mineral water, but at least we can stop this damage.
You have to come heavy on everyone.
Hold them accountable.
Create deterrence.
Identify illegal connections and take measures.
They will be afraid before putting a hole in the pipe.
We do not do this to anyone except for the good of the people.
” HC pulls up AMC: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation stated limits for responding to the report submitted by amicus curiae and the JTF and submitted that his team was busy for the World Bank team was in town to discuss funding for the up-gradation of STP.
The judges laugh, and asked to stop livestreaming, and took the authority to task for making deals worth crores of rupees with the World Bank for STP up-gradation, but did not bother to look after not functioning mill.