Gujarat HC Dismisses Sarigam Paper Mill Pollution PIL, ₹1 Lakh Fine imposed on petitioner

AHMEDABAD :  The Gujarat High Court has delivered a sharp message against unsubstantiated allegations in the name of public interest, dismissing a PIL alleging air, water and noise pollution by a paper mill in Sarigam and imposing a ₹1 lakh fine on the petitioner.

The petition, filed by Sarigam resident Satyajit Rai, alleged violations of environmental clearance conditions, night-time noise pollution, inadequate green cover and the use of plastic waste in boilers. However, investigations conducted by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), following directions from the High Court, did not substantiate the principal allegations.

According to the GPCB reports placed before the court, treated industrial wastewater was being sent to the Sarigam Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), with the recorded discharge broadly matching the available logbook data. Groundwater testing also did not establish industrial contamination.

Similarly, ambient air-quality monitoring was found to be within prescribed limits. The GPCB also reported that around 15,000 trees were present within the industrial premises, countering the allegation of inadequate green cover.

The High Court considered the investigation reports and observed that various complaints had been examined by the authorities, with air, water and noise parameters largely found to comply with prescribed standards.

The court consequently dismissed the petition, describing it as “motivated” and “frivolous”, and directed the petitioner to deposit ₹1 lakh within three weeks.

The court has further directed that the penalty amount be utilised for tree plantation, giving the order an environmental dimension.

The ruling has triggered wider debate over the use of PILs to raise environmental concerns and the need to substantiate allegations with credible evidence.

The case also underlines the importance of regulatory investigations in environmental disputes, particularly where industrial activity and public health concerns intersect.