Ahmedabad: According to a bench of the Gujarat High Court, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) failed to curb pollution in the Sabarmati River and the municipal commissioner was advised to fix accountability.
Justice JB Pardiwala said if the municipal commissioner is watching this live streaming, then we request him to hold accountable each person that spreads pollution. Only this way will we make a headway in cleaning up Sabarmati. “The moment you start doing this, it will create fear and he will think twice (before doing anything wrong). We are not doing this for anyone, we are doing this for the people,” Justice Pardiwala said while hearing a suo motu petition related to pollution in Sabarmati.
The court made strict remarks after Rohit Prajapati, an environment activist and a member of the joint task force, and amicus curiae Hemang Shah produced a gory picture of pollution in the river. The JTF members requested the court to ensure the presence of the Chief Secretary and Municipal Commissioner in the hearing so that the issue could be looked into rigorously.
Justice VD Nanavati, the other member of the bench, while addressing the AMC’s counsel, said, “Something has to be done. What is coming in your way? Just give us some ideas so we may be able to understand. Are you afraid of somebody? Is some force working against you that you are so diffident in taking positive action?”
The court further asked, “Are you apprehensive of hue and cry that may be raised. Let it be raised. But why are you shirking from your responsibility? You owe it to society, you owe it to the people, you owe it to the statutory obligations. The day is not far when we will have to take very harsh steps. So, we are giving you an opportunity to rectify the shortcomings.”
Referring to the natural calamity in Uttarakhand due to heavy rain, the judge said, “Whatever damage has been caused, we don’t think it will ever be repaired. Nature is in no mood to forgive us.”
Citing total lack of accountability on part of the AMC when it comes to pollution, the court asked, “Everybody works in his own way. You must be held accountable. And why not? You are the authority. You can’t take things for granted. Will you not ask your contractor what he’s up to? Should you not terminate the contract and black list the contractor?”
