JUDGMENT

B.P. Jeevan Reddy, J.-This order may be read in continuation of our order dated October 25, 1994. By the order aforesaid, we had requested the Central Government to look into all relevant aspects as directed by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in its judgment dated November 16, 1991 and to record its opinion with reasons. The said record was directed to be placed before this Court for consideration for passing of further orders.

2. The Central Government is said to have constituted an inter-ministerial committee headed by Sri C.K. Basu, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries. The Committee comprised three other members, viz., Sri Shyam Lal, Director, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Sri N. Kondaiah, Joint Commissioner, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Agriculture and Dr. G.S. Singh, Deputy Commissioner, Ministry of Food Processing Industries. The said Committee has submitted a Report, Paragraph 11 whereof states its conclusions in the following words:

"11. Conclusions

In the light of the foregoing discussions, the Committee is of the opinion that:

(i) with regard to the pollution of air and water the suggestions and recommendations made by the Krishnan Committee as well as the expert opinion contained in it are good and are acceptable. The Government of India in the Ministry of Environment and Forests have already accepted the same and the steps to implement have already been taken. The Environment Audit Report along with the Environmental Management Firm Report along with the Environmental Management Plan prepared by the company are acceptable. However, regular monitoring of pollution of air and water need to be continued by the Company itself as well as periodic checking by the Andhra Pradesh State Pollution Control Board.

(ii) the Krishnan Committee s assumption and apprehensions on depletion of Cattle due to establishment of M/s. Al-Kabeer s slaughter house are not based on correct scientific analysis and adequate reasoning, and therefore, are not acceptable. From the facts and analysis in the foregoing paras it is obvious that amongst the bovine animals, the project of M/s. Al-Kabeer is to utilise only the unproductive buffaloes and not cow & its progeny. In fact, adequate number of unproductive buffaloes are and will be available for the use in this slaughter house and other slaughter houses in Andhra Pradesh.

(iii) the Krishnan Committee s suggestion of State Government taking over the M/s. Al-Kabeer slaughter house for supply of meat for domestic requirement goes contrary to the objective of giving permission for setting up of abattoir by M/s. Al-Kabeer, as well as Government of India s programmes for increase of export of meat and meat products. There is, however, need for modernising with existing abattoirs in the State for which the State Government may take appropriate steps separately.

(iv) the suggestion of Krishnan Committee of company undertaking effective programme to raise feed cattle for meeting 50% requirement of the abattoir is not practicable and therefore, is not acceptable. However, as per the terms of license, the company should prepare a plan in consultation with the State Government and take up its implementation in conjunction with the State Government for promoting better animal husbandry practices."

3. The appellants have filed a number of objections to the said Report. We shall briefly deal with the main objections :

(1) In Paragraph 10.11 of the Report, reliance is placed upon 15th quienquennial live-stock Census 1993 prepared by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Andhra Pradesh [Annexure VI to the Report]. [According to the learned counsel for the Central Government, the said Report reflects the position upto September-October, 1993.] According to the Report, the buffalo population has increased by 4.28 percent between 1987 and 1993. In ot