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Gujarat High Court

Consumer Protection & Analytic ... vs State Of Gujarat Thro Chief Town Planner ... on 18 September, 2014

Author: J.B.Pardiwala

Bench: Akil Kureshi, J.B.Pardiwala

        C/WPPIL/186/2012                                ORDER




         IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

                  WRIT PETITION (PIL) NO. 186 of 2012

================================================================
     CONSUMER PROTECTION & ANALYTIC COMMITTEE THRO
                  AUTHORISED....Applicant(s)
                          Versus
 STATE OF GUJARAT THRO CHIEF TOWN PLANNER & 2....Opponent(s)
================================================================
Appearance:
MR.HARDIK B SHAH, ADVOCATE for the Applicant(s) No. 1
MR BHATT, AGP for the Opponent(s) No. 1
MR SATYAM Y CHHAYA, ADVOCATE for the Opponent(s) No. 2
MR VAIBHAV A VYAS, ADVOCATE for the Opponent(s) No. 3
NOTICE SERVED BY DS for the Opponent(s) No. 1 - 2
================================================================

        CORAM: HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE AKIL KURESHI
               and
               HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA

                           Date : 18/09/2014


                             ORAL ORDER

(PER : HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE J.B.PARDIWALA)

1.By this writ application, in the nature of  a   public   interest   litigation,   the  petitioner,   a   non­governmental  organization, has prayed for the following  reliefs:

"12.A. To   accomplish   the   contract   for  cleaning   of   Lalbahadur   Shastri   Lake   Drainage in time limit, Page 1 of 6 C/WPPIL/186/2012 ORDER B.   To   initiate   departmental   inquiry   against   the   negligent   officer   of  Respondent   authority   who   was   responsible  for   the   contract   of   crores   of   rupees   in   Lalbahadur   Shastri   lake   drainage   with  Contractor.

B1.   To   issue   notice   on   the   Gujarat   Pollution Control Board with direction to  submit   its   action   report   with   suggestion  to   solve   the   issue   of   pollution   in   Lalbahadur   Shastri   Lake   due   to   drainage  water as early as possible.

C.   Pending   hearing,   admission   and   final  disposal   be   pleased   to   empty   the   dirty   water   from   the   Lalbahadur   Shastri   lake  drainage,   to   spray   medicines   in   the  surrounding area. And to take precautions  for permanent solution for removal of rain   water   in   the   area   of   Rakhial   Cross   Road   area,   Archna   Industrial   Estate   Area   and  Hatkeshwar Area."

2. Shorn   of   the   facts   the   case   of   the  petitioner   is   that,   on   13.08.2012,   the  eastern   part   of   the   Ahmedabad   City   was  severely lashed by heavy rains. It appears  that   the   sewage   water   from   the   drainage  line   got   mixed   with   the   Malek   Saban   Lake  resulting   in   the   area   getting   inundated  with   water.   The   grievance   of   the  petitioner   is   that   the   entire   area   got  flooded.   The   roads,   shops,   houses   were  Page 2 of 6 C/WPPIL/186/2012 ORDER filled   with   water.   There   was   a   potential  health hazard on account of  such calamity  and   all   these   happened   due   to   the  negligence   of   the   contractor,   who   was  appointed by the Corporation for the work  of   disilting   and   cleaning   of   the  Lalbahadur   Shastri   lake.   It   is   in   this  background   that   this   petition   was  preferred mainly praying that the cleaning  of   the   Lalbahadur   Shastri   lake   be  completed   at   the   earliest.   It   is   also  prayed   that   appropriate   departmental  inquiry   be   initiated   against   all   those  erring   officers   of   the   Nagar   Palika.  Considering   the   seriousness   of   the  situation,   this   Court,   vide   order   dated  23.08.2012,   had   directed   the   Ahmedabad  Municipal   Corporation   to   ensure   that   the  dirty   water   from   the   lake   drainage   be  dispersed  and   should   also   take   steps   for  spraying   medicines   in   the   surrounding  areas   for   prevention   of   growth   of  mosquitoes and other epidemic.

3. On   behalf   of   the   Ahmedabad   Municipal  Corporation,   an   affidavit­in­reply   has  been filed by Mr. Dilip Shantilal Gor, Dy. 

C/WPPIL/186/2012 ORDER Municipal   Commissioner,   East   zone.   It  appears   from   the   affidavit­in­reply   that  all necessary steps were taken to see that  the   water   from   houses,   shops   and   other  properties was drained. For that purpose 5  to 6 huge pumps were deployed in service.  Preventive   measures   were   instantaneously  initiated   like   defogging   the   entire   area  and all other sanitary measures necessary  to   take   the   situation   in   control   were  taken   at   the   relevant   point   of   time.   It  also   appears   from   the   reply   that   the  erring Contractor, due to whose negligence  the   situation   had   cropped   up,   was   served  with   a   notice   in   that   regard.   The  Contractor was made to bear all the costs  of the activities like decontamination of  lake   and   its   surrounding.   It   is   also  stated   in   the   reply   that   the   Contractor  agreed that deduction of all such expenses  be   made  from   his   running   bills   and  accordingly Rs. 10 lac was retained by the  Corporation. It also appears that a final  show cause notice was issued calling upon  the Contractor to show cause why he should  not   be   blacklisted   and   his   contract   may  not be summarily terminated for his act of  Page 4 of 6 C/WPPIL/186/2012 ORDER negligence.   A   detailed  affidavit­in­reply  has been filed by the Corporation. 

4. Today, when the matter is take­up for  final   hearing,   Mr.   Chhaya   the   learned  advocate   appearing   on   behalf   of   the  Corporation has filed a further affidavit  stating that the Corporation has taken the  decision   to   develop   the   lake   by  constructing   the   retaining   wall   on   the  boundary.   The   corporation   also   proposes  to   develop   a   garden   by   providing   jogging  track   etc.   and   other   facilities   for   the  use of public at large. It is also stated  that   the   pollution   level   in   the   water   of  the   lake   is   also   well   within   the  parameters   prescribed   by   the   Gujarat  Pollution Control Board. According to Mr.  Chhaya at the relevant point of time, all  necessary   steps   were   taken   to   reduce   the  hardship, the people at large had to face.  As on today also all steps are being taken  to   ensure   that   such   calamity   would   not  occur again. 

5. Mr.   Shah   the   learned   advocate  appearing on behalf of the petitioner also  Page 5 of 6 C/WPPIL/186/2012 ORDER submits   that   Corporation   had   taken   steps  although   there   was   some   delay   at   their  end.   He   has   also   submitted   about   the   new  project of the Corporation. Thus, from the  above,   it   appears   that   in   the   year   2012  problem did crop up and people had to face  lot   of   difficulties.   However,   the  Corporation   did   take   act   promptly.   As   on  today,   there   is   no   other   problem   in   this  particular area. The Corporation has also  assured   that   they   would   keep   a   check   on  the free flow of the water in the lake and  the drainage system. A new project is also  on their agenda for the development of the  lake and its surrounding.

6. We see no reason now to continue with  this public interest litigation. The same  is,   ordered   to   be   closed   and   is   disposed  of accordingly.

(AKIL KURESHI, J.) (J.B.PARDIWALA, J.) Jyoti Page 6 of 6