Summary:
It was also argued that a study report prepared by an expert body could not be questioned by way of a writ petition. more-inThe Madras High Court has refused to injunct Sterlite copper or any other organisation from relying upon a study report prepared by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in July this year with respect to the quality of water in and around the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (Sipcot) industrial park in Thoothukudi district. The report concluded that Sterlite industries was not the only reason for the excess quantity of lead, manganese, copper, arsenic and cromium nickel in the groundwater, and that there were other contributing factors. Since the ASG questioned the maintainability of the petition itself, the judges asked him to file a detailed counter-affidavit in two weeks, after which the court would take a call on the issue. In an affidavit filed in support of the State government’s writ petition, Environment and Forest Secretary Shambu Kallolikar accused the CGWB of having prepared the ‘Report on Short Term Investigation of Groundwater Quality in and around Sipcot Industrial Area, Tuticorin’ without taking the State into confidence..