JUDGMENT

I. MAHANTY, J. — In this batch of writ petitions, petitioners who have set up Stone Crushing Units at various places within the State of Orissa have prayed for being provided with an alternate site by the Orissa Industrial Infrastructural Development Corporation or any of the State body or authorities on payment of costs and also to quash the notice of closure issued by the State Pollution Control Board, Orissa and/or to keep the same in abeyance till alternate site is provided to the petitioners.

2. Mr. Y. Das, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner on the outset submitted that although he had appeared for the petitioners in those batch of writ petitions, he had no instructions in the matter and sought for the permission of the Court to address the Court as an amicus curiae. Learned Senior Counsel limited his prayer to seeking a direction to the State and/or authorities to provide the petitioners with alternate sites complying with the requirements as stipulated by the State Pollution Control Board, within a limited period.

3. Mr. S.P. Mohanty, learned counsel appearing for the State Pollution Board, Orissa vehemently argued that the present writ petitions ar