Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has taken a stern stance against government officials for their prolonged failure to address water pollution issues affecting villages near Dholka town. Contempt of court notices have been issued to four senior IAS officers and the chief officer of Dholka municipality for not complying with earlier court orders aimed at curbing pollution in local waterbodies.
Contempt Notices Issued to Top Officials
A bench comprising Justice A S Supehia and Justice L S Pirzada issued contempt proceedings notices to Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) chairman R B Barad, Ahmedabad district collector Sujeet Kumar, Gujarat Urban Development Co Ltd (GUDCL) managing director Remya Mohan, GUDCL chairman M Thennarasan, and Dholka’s chief officer Prarthana Jadeja. The notices were issued on September 25 following repeated delays in taking effective action against pollution.
Lawyers representing these officials requested additional time to get instructions, leading the court to schedule the next hearing for October 3.
Background: PIL Filed Over Pollution in Dholka Villages
This action stems from a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2018 by advocate Hardik Shah. The petition highlighted serious concerns regarding the discharge of untreated drainage water by the Dholka municipality and industrial effluents from chemical and pharmaceutical companies into an open canal that runs through the villages of Trasad, Bhetavada, and Nesda.
The petition detailed how contaminated water from this canal seeps into agricultural fields and residential areas, severely impacting crop yields and the drinking water supply. The ongoing contamination has forced villagers to abandon their homes due to health risks and environmental degradation.
Court’s Criticism Over Delayed and Ineffective Action
Recent water sample analyses revealed inadequate treatment of sewage discharge, raising alarms about the deteriorating condition of local waterbodies. The High Court expressed frustration at the sluggish response by responsible authorities, noting that the Gujarat Pollution Control Board had been alerted about the pollution as far back as 2016.
In 2021, the court had passed a comprehensive order directing GUDCL to develop infrastructure to manage at least 30% of the untreated sewage. However, subsequent findings showed untreated sewage was still being released into the Sabarmati river and nearby ponds, leading to further contamination.
Directions to Officials to Present a Concrete Plan
The High Court accused the officers of blatant defiance of its directives and emphasized the severe impact on villagers who depend on these waterbodies for agriculture. The court stated, “It is not in dispute that the villagers are using the ponds for their agricultural purpose and they are constrained to yield the produce, which stands out of such polluted water.”
The bench directed the implicated officers to resolve the pollution issues and present a concrete and actionable plan at the next hearing on October 3, stressing the urgency of the matter.
What Lies Ahead?
With the court initiating contempt proceedings, pressure mounts on government bodies to prioritize the health of the environment and local communities in Dholka. The upcoming hearing will be crucial in determining the next steps to ensure compliance and restore safe water conditions for the affected villages.
