The Madras High Court has directed a court-constituted committee to inspect the Chennai Port Trust and verify the facts stated in an affidavit filed by the port to writ petitions relating to dumping of chemicals.
A Division Bench comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and K.K. Sasidharan passed the order on petitions filed by the Madras High Court Practising Advocates Association, represented by its president, Elephant G. Rajendran, and others. A direction was also sought to the authorities to prevent unloading of reddish iron ore dust in Chennai harbour, and to the port to stop dumping and handling of dusty powdered coal and consequential pollution.
When the matter came up, the Chennai Port Trust filed a compliance report in the form of an affidavit. Counsel for the petitioner and the Pollution Control Board expressed their dissatisfaction with regard to the compliance report.
The Bench said, in these circumstances, it considered it appropriate to direct the committee constituted by the court, by an order dated June 6, 2007, associated by the Registrar-General, High Court, to inspect the Chennai Port Trust, verify the facts stated in the affidavit and submit a report within four weeks.
In the meanwhile, the Ennore Port Ltd. should file a status report regarding the steps taken to complete works at the port.
The Bench posted the matter after four weeks.
