ORDER

The Issue – water pollution from chemical factories in Waluj Industrial area in District Aurangabad

1. This order will deal with Original Application No. 11/2013 (WZ) and Original Application No. 139/2016 (WZ) as both the matters involve common issue.

2. O.A. No. 11/2013 was registered on transfer of W.P. No. 3439 of 2002 on the file of High Court of Judicature of Bombay, Bench at Aurangabad vide order dated 01.10.2013. The Writ Petition raised the issue of ground water pollution in the vicinity of Waluj Industrial area in District Aurangabad.

3. Case of the applicants is that the area is not notified as Chemical Industrial Zone but number of chemical factories are allowed to operate there. Discharge of untreated chemicals is resulting in contamination of the groundwater, causing health hazard to the local inhabitants. The statutory authorities failed to discharge their obligation of controlling the pollution by taking action against the erring industries. The official and the private respondents put forward their version.

NGT Judgement dated 24.9.2014

4. This Tribunal considered the matter vide judgment dated 24.09.2014 in light of the stand of the parties and the material on reco