File status report on PCB plea, BBN authority told

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, October 5

Expressing concern on the issue of rising pollution level in the Nalagarh area of the state, the HP High Court today directed the Baddi Barotiwala Nalagarh Industries Association and Baddi Technical Training Institute to file response to the status report filed by the Pollution Control Board (PCB).

During the course of hearing it was informed to the court by the Pollution Control Board that it had filed a status report.

After hearing the matter for some time the court directed the SDM Nalagarh to remain present before the court tomorrow.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Sandeep Sharma passed these orders on a petition taken up suo moto by the court as Public Interest Litigation on a news item published in “The Tribune” in July, 1 under headline “Pollution rises in Baddi as effluent plant under used”. The news item suggested that less than 50% industrial units of Baddi Industrial area send untreated effluents to the CETP (Common Effluent Treatment Plant). It was further reported that the plant is treating 11 million litres waste per day as against the proposed 25 million litres daily.