Hon’ble Vineet Saran, J.—For running any industry, fuel is the most important component. In the 19th century, the main fuel was coal and coke, which in the 20th century was oil. In the 21st century the main fuel for the industry is, and is likely to continue to be, natural gas.

2. The dispute in the present petitions is primarily with regard to the fixation of price of natural gas, earlier supplied by Gail (India) Ltd. (in short GAIL) and now by Gail Gas Ltd., to the industrial units of Agra and Firozabad falling in the Taj Trapezium Zone (in short TTZ).

3. The history of this litigation stems from a Public Interest Litigation filed by one M.C.Mehta for curtailing the pollution in Agra because emission from the industries of the area was eroding and damaging the grandeur of the Taj Mahal, which is a national monument and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The said writ petition (PIL) was filed in the year 1984 and after hearing the parties concerned, as well as seeking reports from the expert committees, namely, Vardharajan Committee and National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), the Supreme Court, vide its order dated 30.12.1996 passed in M.C.Mehta