HC warns of action against urban local body chiefs for water

Expressing displeasure over lapses by urban local bodies on the issue of water pollution, the Orissa High Court has asked the government to show cause why the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) will not be directed to initiate prosecution against the bodies' executive heads.
Taking suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report, a division bench, headed by Chief Justice D H Waghela, on Wednesday asked the government counsel to submit the list and address of all urban local bodies heads for serving notice in case of necessity.
"The state government is called upon to show cause as to why SPCB should not be directed to initiate prosecution against the municipal authorities for violation of mandatory provisions of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act-1974," the HC said in its order posting the matter to be heard again on January 22.

It also asked SPCB to give details about the steps taken to enforce the relevant provisions of the Act for restoration of quality of river waters which are polluted by discharge of urban sewerage into it.
The HC notices are returnable by January 22.
In accordance with Sections 25 and 26 of the Act, SPCB had in May last year asked the urban local bodies to obtain consent to operate and for discharge of treated sewerage effluent into water bodies after meeting the protocol.
Only 31 of the 111 urban local bodies applied for the consent to operate under the Act but none submitted its action plan to set up sewerage treatment system.

The HC took cognisance of a newspaper report and began adjudication over it after converting it into a writ of public interest litigation (PIL).