M.C. MEHTA V. UNION OF INDIA (UOI) AND ORS.
Whether the emissions generated from industries are air pollutants having destructive effect on Taj and people living in TTZ.
Hon'ble Judges: Madan B. Lokur, S. Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta, JJ
Citation: AIR 1997 SC 734
Contentions raised by the Plaintiff
- Taj Mahal is one of the most priceless national monument and it experiences threats due to pollution.
- The Plaintiff contends that the emissions that are generated by the industries in the Taj Trapezium Zone were the polluting the air and in turn Taj faced major threats due to acid rain and a corroding effect was seen on the marbles of the monument.
- Hence, the petitioner sought appropriate measures to be taken and direct the authorities to take immediate action concerned with the issue and stop the pollution at any cost to save the monument from further deterioration.
Contentions raised by the Defendant
- The counsels appearing on behalf of most of the industries have informed the court that the industries are willing to convert to gas.
Judgment
The Hon’ble court after observing reports given by various technical authorities like the Varadharajan Committee and The Central Board for the prevention and Control of Water Pollution, held that the emissions generated by the coke/coal consuming industries are air-pollutants and have a damaging effect on the Taj and the people living in TTZ. The court directed the atmospheric pollution generated in TTZ to be eliminated and the industries to use natural gas as an industrial fuel and those industries who are not in a position to obtain gas connections to relocate themselves.
