A division bench of the Gujarat High Court headed by Justice JB Pardiwala on Friday sought details of coal consumption in Gujarat and the number of industries that use only coal as a medium of fuel
in order to assess as to what extent “the possibility of providing infrastructure or a network to all these industries for supply of CNG/PNG
The remarks came upon reserving the order by the bench after
Government pleader Manisha Shah submitted that PNG/CNG would be a very ideal situation in the face of pollution by coal but at present the state does not have gas networks in very remote areas where industries are set up foravailaing benefit of subsidies. She also said
that the state is attempting to phase out coal as a fuel in industries.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation highlighting air polluting industries in Gujarat and the need to adhere to permissible pollution standards, filed by advocate Amit Panchal, appearing as party-in-person.The PIL sought to ensure that industries switch over to cleaner fuels of natural gas.
Meanwhile the state has requested the court to make the energy department, road and transport department, industries department and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation as party to the litigation.
