Arijit Pasayat, C.J.

These eight appeals are directed against the common judgment dated 20.11.1998 passed by learned single judge disposing of four Original Petitions viz. O.P. Nos. 8592 of 1990, 445, 1120 and 1970 of 1995. Four Writ Appeals have been filed by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, Thiruvananthapuram, (in short 'the board) and four appeals have been filed by the Travancore Rayons Ltd., Rayonpuram (in short, 'the Company').

2. Background facts are undisputed and need to be noted in brief. Company is a public limited one, manufacturing rayon and cellophane. For various purposes of the factory, water is drawn from Periyar river and is used for manufacturing, domestic purposes, generating streams etc. In course of manufacture, some quantity of water get polluted, which is treated in the Effluent Treatment Plant of the factory and treated water is discharged back to river again. For such discharge, consent from Board is necessary in terms of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (in short 'the Water act). Said consent is valid for three years. Condition No. 4 of the consent order indicates the tolerance limits, that is the effluent character