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These directions shall be followed by all the authorities  concerned. Since no compensation, as such, has been claimed  in this writ petition, we are not giving a further direction in  that regard."

[2.3] It   appears   that   while   issuing   the   aforesaid   directions   the  Division   Bench   had   taken   into   consideration   the   decision   of   the  Hon'ble   Supreme   Court   in   the   case   of  Vellore   Citizens   Welfare  Forum vs. Union of India and Others  reported in  AIR 1996 SC  2715 and in the case of Indian Council for Enviro Legal Action &  Ors. vs. Union of India and Others  reported in  JT 1995 (9) SC  427  and in the case of  Deepak Nitrite Ltd. vs. State of Gujarat  and Ors.  reported in  AIR 2004 SC 3407  and the decision of the  Division Bench of this Court in the case of Deepak Nitrite Ltd. vs.  State of Gujarat and Ors. reported in 1997(1) GLR 1062.

[7.0] Heard   learned   Counsel   appearing   for   respective   parties   at  length.

[7.1] At   the   outset   it   is   required   to   be   noted   that   earlier   one  Solanki   Motisinh   Magansinh   of   village   Boriya   Khurad,   District  Sabarkantha   sent   a   typed   application   dated   06.04.2005   to   the  Hon'ble   The   Chief   Justice   of   this   Court   making   grievance   with  respect   to  pollution   and  the   damage   caused  to  the   underground  water,   by   three   industries   in   the   area   including   the   petitioner  herein. In exercise of  suo moto  jurisdiction the Hon'ble The Chief  Justice   treated   the   said   letter   as   a   writ   petition   which   was  numbered as Special Civil Application No.6739/2005. At the time  of hearing of the said Special Civil Application an affidavit in reply  was filed on behalf of the GPCB stating that three industries which  are found to be responsible for pollution affecting the underground  water, bore­wells / wells including the petitioner, the closure order  has been passed and all the three industries / factories including  the petitioner have been closed and even the electricity supply has  also been disconnected. Therefore, the Division Bench disposed of  the   said   Special   Civil   Application   by   order   dated   07.10.2005.  However, thereafter, no further steps were taken by the Pollution  Control   Board   to   control   the   contamination   of   the   underground  water and to prevent and control the water pollution, some of the  agriculturists / farmers of the nearby area once again approached  this Court by way of Special Civil Application No.9699/2008 inter   alia stating that earlier the GPCB had to take strict measures due to  the objections raised by the villagers and ultimately the factory was  closed   down   but   the   problems   of   the   complainant   and   other  villagers still subsist. It was submitted that pollution caused by the  petitioner's   factory   is   a   perennial  problem   and  the   contaminated  water still causes serious health hazards and the pollution already  caused is still to be eradicated and therefore, it was requested to  issue   directions   to   take   appropriate   steps   to   check   and   curb   the  pollution of the underground water at village Boriya Khurad and to  take   appropriate   action   against   the   offending   industrial   unit  responsible   for   the   pollution   of  the   underground   water  and  also  take appropriate steps against the erring officers and also for the  consequential reliefs. At this stage it is required to be noted that in  the said Special Civil Application the petitioner was also joined as a  party respondent who also filed a detailed counter affidavit. In the  said proceedings the GPCB also filed the counter affidavit. It was  stated on behalf of the GPCB that since the GPCB came to know  about the the environmental pollution, they took immediate action  and ordered closure of the unit and the Collector also passed an  order whereby the electricity connection was also disconnected and  the   unit   is   not   functioning.   Another   affidavit   was   filed   by   the  Pollution   Control   Board   since   this   Court   directed   it   to   conduct  another   inspection   about   the   pollution   caused   by   the   petitioner  herein   due   to   discharge   of   effluents   into   the   bore­wells   without  taking   precautionary   measures.   The   inspection   was   carried   on  20.01.2009 and samples were tested. Inspection report suggested  that the water of three bore­wells were not potable out of six bore­ wells. It was stated by the GPCB that the GPCB is also alive to the  issue   of   damage   already   caused   by   the   unit   while   it   was   in  operation.   That   thereafter,   after   considering   the   decisions   of   the  Hon'ble   Supreme   Court   in   the   case   of   Vellore   Citizens   Welfare  Forum   (Supra),   Indian   Council   for   Enviro   Legal   Action   &   Ors.  (Supra)   and   Deepak   Nitrite   Ltd.   (Supra),   the   Division   Bench  thought   it   fit   to   exercise   the   powers   under   Article   226   of   the  Constitution   of   India   to   assess   the   legitimate   compensation   to  evolve the mechanism and thereafter directed the District Collector  to   ascertain   and/or   assess   the   damages   /   harm   caused   to   the  environment. The mechanism which was directed by the Division  Bench reads as under: