Telangana High Court
M/S S.R.Minerals vs The Union Of India on 1 May, 2024
THE HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE ALOK ARADHE
AND
THE HON'BLE SHRI JUSTICE ANIL KUMAR JUKANTI
WRIT PETITION No.12187 of 2024
ORDER:(Per the Hon'ble the Chief Justice Alok Aradhe) Mr. M.Ramakanth, learned counsel for the petitioner. Ms. B.Kavita Yadav, learned counsel representing Mr. Gadi Praveen Kumar, learned Deputy Solicitor General of India for respondent No.1.
Mr. Pranav Munigela, learned counsel for respondent No.2.
Mr. A.Vishnu Vardhana Reddy, learned Standing Counsel for Telangana State Pollution Control Board for respondent Nos.4 and 5.
Mr. Mahesh Raje, learned Government Pleader for Mines and Geology Department for respondent Nos.6 and
9. Mr. Muralidhar Reddy Katram, learned Government Pleader for Revenue for respondent Nos.7 and 8.
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2. With consent of the learned counsel for the parties, the writ petition is heard finally.
3. In this writ petition, the petitioner is aggrieved by inaction on the part of the respondents in not conducting the Environmental Public Hearing in respect of the project of the petitioner, namely a Laterite mine located on a land measuring Acs.26.36 guntas of Survey No.185 of Antharam Village, Chevella Mandal, Ranga Reddy District, in the light of EIA notification dated 14.09.2006.
4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the Public Hearing was scheduled on 16.06.2023.
However, the same was postponed and thereafter the Public Hearing was held on 03.08.2023. However, the aforesaid Public Hearing was also not concluded. It is also submitted that petitioner has made a representation on 04.03.2024 requesting the Environmental Engineer, Telangana State Pollution Control Board, Ranga Reddy District to conduct a Public Hearing.
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5. Learned Standing Counsel for Telangana State Pollution Control Board submits that in case petitioner submits a fresh representation seeking a Public Hearing, the Telangana State Pollution Control Board shall take an action on the same in accordance with law within a period of one month.
6. In view of aforesaid submission and in the facts of the case, no useful purpose will be served by keeping the writ petition pending.
7. Accordingly, the Writ Petition is disposed of with the liberty to the petitioner to submit a fresh representation to the Environmental Engineer, Telangana State Pollution Control Board, Ranga Reddy District. The Environmental Engineer on receipt of such a representation shall take steps to conduct the Public Hearing within a period of six weeks from the date of such a representation. It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on merits of the matter.
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As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, pending if any, stand closed. There shall be no order as to costs.
_______________________________ ALOK ARADHE, CJ _______________________________ ANIL KUMAR JUKANTI, J Date: 01.05.2024 KL