AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Saturday asked the state government why it should not junk the decision declaring coal as an approved fuel to curb the air pollution levels.
In response to a PIL filed by petitioner-advocate Amit Panchal seeking prohibition on use of coal as fuel for industries and demanding that all industrial units functioning on coal be shifted to gas, the bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice V D Nanavati has asked the state government, “Why the Gazette Notification dated 26.10.2017 or any similar notification/order by which it declares coal to be an approved fuel under Section 2(d) of the Air Pollution Act be not struck down?” the court has sought reply by December 17.
The high court agreed to the petitioner’s insistence that prohibiting coal as a fuel and shifting to natural gas will help in reduction of pollution levels. The high court cited various court orders and its effects on shifting industries to the use of PNG in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
All 1,635 industrial units in Delhi have completely shifted to the use of PNG. In NCR in Haryana, out of 1,469 identified industrial units, 408 units have shifted. In Uttar Pradesh, out of 2,273 units, as many as 1,167 units have shifted to gas. In Rajasthan, out of 436 identified units, 124 units have shifted to PNG. After citing these figures, the HC insisted that Gujarat too can try to achieve this.
In response, government pleader Manisha Lavkumar Shah submitted that it is very difficult for the state government to take sudden policy decision to do away with coal. This may lead to lot of chaos and many small scale industries may be put into various difficulties. But the government pleader also maintained that usage of coal leads to air pollution and sooner or later, the government will have to take an appropriate policy decision to completely switch over to natural gas like CNG and PNG.
Citing the Supreme Court orders, the HC said that the old concept that ‘development and ecology cannot go together’ is no longer acceptable. Sustainable development is the answer. The development of industries is essential for the economy of the country, but at the same time, the environment and the eco-systems have to be protected.
The pollution created as a consequence of development must be commensurated with the carrying capacity of our eco-systems. After recording the high level of pollution and the health risk the people are at, the high court also said that the state government has powers to end the practice of use of coal as fuel.
