Gujarat HC to Hear Sarigam Pollution PIL on August 11

AHMEDABAD :  The Gujarat High Court is set to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on August 11 over alleged environmental violations by a major industrial unit in Sarigam Industrial Estate in Valsad district. The petition, filed by a local resident, accuses the company of causing pollution for years while alleging that the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) failed to take effective action despite repeated complaints.

The PIL alleges that N.R. Agrawal Industries, spread across nearly 100 acres, has been operating in violation of environmental norms by causing noise pollution in a residential area, running a captive power plant without the required environmental clearance and failing to scientifically dispose of industrial waste.

According to the petitioner, villagers, local leaders and residents have submitted multiple complaints to the GPCB and other authorities, including the Chief Minister’s Office, over the past five years. However, they claim no concrete action has been taken.

“Despite repeated representations, the pollution issues remain unresolved, forcing us to approach the High Court in the larger public interest,” the petitioner stated.

The High Court had earlier heard the matter on July 14 and July 28, directing the GPCB to file its response on issues including the functioning of the Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS), alleged night-time noise pollution and the operation of a 7.5 MW captive power plant.

In its affidavit, the GPCB denied the allegations, stating that the company’s environmental monitoring systems are functioning properly and that all prescribed environmental standards were found to be compliant during inspections. The board also maintained that the waste heat recovery-based captive power plant is exempt from separate environmental approval.

The court observed that since the petitioner is a businessman, the PIL could have been filed for personal reasons. However, it has allowed the petitioner an opportunity to establish that the matter involves genuine public interest.

The upcoming hearing on August 11 is expected to determine whether the allegations merit further judicial intervention, as villagers continue to seek stricter enforcement of environmental norms in the industrial belt.