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PETITIONER: M.C. MEHTA

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: UNION OF INDIA & OTHERS

DATE OF JUDGMENT22/09/1987

BENCH: VENKATARAMIAH, E.S. (J) BENCH: VENKATARAMIAH, E.S. (J) SINGH, K.N. (J)

CITATION:  1988 AIR 1115            1988 SCR  (2) 530  1988 SCC  (1) 471        JT 1988 (1)    69

ACT:      Constitution of India, 1950: Articles 48A and 51A-State to protect and improve environment-Fundamental duty of every citizen to improve natural environment.      Environmental Law      Water (Prevention  and Control  of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986:      ’Environment’-Discharge of  effluents from tannery into the River  Ganga-Necessity to  establish  primary  treatment plants-Closure of  tanneries directed  on failure to comply- Life, health and ecology have great importance.      Practice and  Procedure: Court  can  issue  appropriate directions if  it finds  public nuisance being committed and statutory authorities  not taking  adequate steps to rectify the grievance.

HEADNOTE:      The  petitioner,  an  active  social  worker,  filed  a petition before  this Court  complaining  that  neither  the Government nor  the people were giving adequate attention to stop the pollution of the river Ganga and it was, therefore, necessary to  take steps  for the  purpose of protecting the cleanliness of  the stream  in the  river Ganga which was in fact the  life sustainer  of a  large part  of the  northern India, and sought the issue of a writ/order/direction in the nature of mandamus to the respondents other than respondents Nos. 1  and 7  to 9  restraining them  from letting  out the trade effluents into the river Ganga till such time they put necessary treatment  plants for treating the trade effluents in order to arrest the pollution of water in the said river.      This Court  directed issue of notice under order 1 Rule 8 of the 280 Code  of   Civil  Procedure   treating   the   case   as   a representative action by publishing the gist of the petition in the  newspapers in  circulation  in  northern  India  and calling upon  industrialists and  the municipal corporations and town  municipal councils  having jurisdiction  over  the areas through  which the  river Ganga flows to appear before the Court  to show  cause as  to why direction should not be issued as  prayed for  by the  petitioner asking them not to allow trade  effluents  and  sewage  into  the  river  Ganga

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without appropriately  treating them before discharging them into the river.      Pursuant to  the aforesaid  notice a  large  number  of industrialists and  legal bodies  entered  appearance.  Some filed counter affidavits ex-plaining the steps taken by them for treating  trade effluents  before discharging  them into the river.      The case  against the  tanneries at Jajmau, Kanpur, was first taken  up by  the Court for consideration. Forty three respondents admitted  in their  counter affidavits  that the tanneries discharged  their trade  effluents into the sewage nallah which  led to  the municipal sewage plant before they were thrown into the river Ganga.      The Court  was informed  that six  of the tanneries had already set  up and fourteen were engaged in construction of primary treatment  plants, and  some others pleaded for time to do so. It was submitted on behalf of the respondents that it would  not be  possible for them to have secondary system for treating waste water in view of the enormous expenditure involved, which  the tanneries  would not  be able  to meet. Some of  the tanneries neither appeared nor were represented by counsel in this Court.      Issuing interim directions, this Court, ^      HELD: 1.1  Article 48-A  of the  Constitution  provides that the  State shall  endeavour to  protect and improve the environment and  to safeguard  the forests  and wild life of the country. Article 51-A of the Constitution imposes as one of the  fundamental duties  on every  citizen  the  duty  to protect  and   improve  the  natural  environment  including forests, lakes,  rivers and wild life and to have campassion for living creatures. [285C-D]      Realising the  importance of the prevention and control of pollution of water for human existence, Parliament passed the Water  (Prevention and  Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, to provide for the 281 prevention  and   control  of   water  pollution   and   the maintaining or  restoring of wholesomeness of water, for the establishment, with  a view  to carrying  out  the  purposes aforesaid of  Boards for the prevention and control of water pollution, for  conferring on  and assigning  to such Boards powers  and  functions  relating  thereto  and  for  matters connected therewith  Sections 16 and 17 of the Act describes the functions  of the  Central and  the State Board. The Act was adopted  by the  State of  Uttar Pradesh.  In  addition, Parliament also  passed the  Environmental (Prevention) Act, 1986 which  came into  effect from November, 1986 throughout India. [288B-D; 289A, F]      1.2  Notwithstanding   the   comprehensive   provisions contained in  the Act  of 1974, no effective steps appear to have been  taken by  the State  Board so  far to prevent the discharge of  effluents of  the Jajmau  near Kanpur  to  the river Ganga.  The fact  that such  effluents are being first discharged into  the municipal sewerage does not absolve the tanneries from  being proceeded against under the provisions of the law in force since ultimately the effluents reach the river Ganga  from the  sewerage system  of the municipality. Not much  has been  done even  under the  Act of 1986 by the Central Government  to stop the grave public nuisance caused by the tanneries at Jajmau, Kanpur. [289-E; 290C]      1.3 There  is no  doubt that the discharge of the trade effluents from  the tanneries  into the river Ganga has been causing considerable  damage to  the life  of the people who use the  water of  the river and also to the aquatic life in

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the river.  The effluents  discharged from  a tannery  is 10 times noxious  when compared  with the domestic sewage which flows into  the river  from any urban area on its banks. The tanneries at Jajmau, Kanpur cannot be allowed to continue to carry on  the industrial  activity unless they take steps to establish primary treatment plant. [298E-F]      No doubt  it may  not be  possible for the tanneries to establish immediately  the secondary system plant in view of the large  expenses  involved,  but  having  regard  to  the adverse effect  the effluents are having on the river water, the tanneries  at Jajmau,  Kanpur, should  at least  set  up primary treatment  plants, which  is the  minimum  that  the tanneries should  do in  the circumstances  of the case. The financial capacity  of the tanneries should be considered as irrelevant  while   requiring  them   to  establish  primary treatment plants.  Just like  an industry  which cannot  pay minimum wages  to its  workers cannot be allowed to exist, a tannery, which  cannot set  up a  primary  treatment  plant, cannot be  permitted to  continue to be in existence for the adverse 282 effect on  the public  at large  which is likely to ensue by the discharging  of the  trade effluents from the tannery to the river  Ganga would  be immense  and it will outweigh any inconvenience that  may be  caused to the management and the labour employed  by it  on account of its closure. Moreover, the tanneries  involved  in  this  case  are  not  taken  by surprise. For  several years  they are  being asked  to take necessary steps  to prevent the flow of untreated water from their factories  into the  river. Some  of them have already complied with the demand. [298C-E]      1.4 In  cases of  this  nature  this  Court  may  issue appropriate directions  if it finds that the public nuisance or other  wrongful act  affecting or likely to affect public is being  committed and  the statutory authorities which are charged with  the duty to prevent it are not taking adequate steps to  rectify the  grivevance. For every breach of right there should be a remedy. [298F-G]      It is  unfortunate that a number of tanneries at Jajmau even though  they are  aware of  these proceedings  have not cared even  to enter  appearance in  this Court  to  express their willingness to take appropriate steps to establish the pretreatment plants.  So far as they are concerned, they are directed to  stop running of their tanneries and also not to let out  trade effluents  either directly or indirectly into the river  Ganga without subjecting the trade effluents to a pretreatment process  by setting up primary treatment plants as approved  by the  State Board with effect from October 1, 1987. Time granted till 31.3.1988 to other tanneries who are members of  the Hindustan Chambers of Commerce and the other tanneries to  establish primary  treatment plants within six months. If  any of these tanneries does not set up a primary treatment plant  within 31.3.1988  such a  tannery will stop business with  effect from  1.4.1988.  [298G-H;  299D,  G-H; 300A]      Such of those tanneries who have already put up primary treatment plants may continue running provided they keep the plants in sound working order.[299Fl      The  Central   Government,  the  Uttar  Pradesh  Board, established under  the provisions  of the  Water (Prevention and  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1974  and  the  District Magistrate, Kanpur are directed to enforce this order. [30OB l      Per Singh, J: (supplementing)      The pollution of the river Ganga is affecting the life,

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health and 283 ecology of  the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The (Government as well as Parliament  both have  taken a number of steps to control the  water  pollution,  but  nothing  substantial  has  been achieved. No  law or  authority can  succeed in removing the pollution unless the people cooperate. It is the sacred duty of all  those who  reside or  carry on  business around  the river Ganga  to ensure  the purity  of Ganga.  Tanneries  at Jajmau area  near Kanpur  have been polluting the Ganga in a big way. Though notices were issued many industrialists have not bothered  either to  respond to  the notice  or to  take elementary steps  for the  treatment of  industrial effluent before discharging  the same into the river. Those tanneries which have  failed to  take minimum  steps required  for the primary treatment  of industrial effluent are directed to be closed.  No   doubt   closure   of   tanneries   may   bring unemployment, loss  of revenue, but life, health and ecology have greater importance to the people. [301G-H; 302A-B]

JUDGMENT:      ORIGINAL JURISDICTION: Writ Petition No. 3727 of 1985      Under Article 32 of the Constitution of India.      M.C. Mehta (Petitioner-in-person).      B. Datta, Additional Solicitor General, R.P. Kapur, P.P Singh and Ms. A Subhashini for Respondent Nos. 2 and 3      R.A. Gupta for Respondent No. 87.      S.K. Dholakia,  Deepak K.  Thakur, Mukul  Mudgal and P. Narasimhan for Respondent No. 89.      Miss Bina  Gupta, B.P.  Singh, S.R. Srivastava, Krishan Kumar, Vineet  Kumar, R.  Mohan,  Mrs.  Shobha  Dikshit,  A. Sharan, D.  Goburdhan, Mrs. G.S. Mishra, Parijat Sinha, R.C. Verma, R.P. Singh, Ranjit Kumar, R.B. Mehrotra, Manoj Swarup & Co.  Raj Birbal,  J.B.D. &  Co. S.S.  Khanduja, B.P Singh, E.C. Aggrawala,  Khaitan & Co., A.K. Srivastava, Swarup John & Co.,  Mehta Dave,  R.S. Sodhi,  Subodh Markandey, T.V.S.N. Chari,  Ashok   Grover,  Narain   and  P.C.  Kapur  for  the Respondents.      B.R.L. Iyenger and Surya Kant for the Intervener.      The Judgment of the Court was delivered by      VENKATARAMIAH, J.  This is a public interest litigation The 284 petitioner who  is an  active social  worker has  filed this petition inter  alia for the issue of a writ/order/direction in the  nature of  mandamus to  the respondents  other  than Respondents 1,  and 7 to 9 restraining them from letting out the trade effluents into the river Ganga till such time they put up  necessary treatment  plants for  treating the  trade effluents in  order to  arrest the pollution of water in the said river. Respondent 1 is the Union of India, Respondent 7 is the  Chairman of  the Central  Board for  Prevention  and Control of  Pollution, Respondent  8 is  the Chairman, Uttar Pradesh Pollution  Control Board  and Respondent  9  is  the Indian Standards Institute.      Water is  the most important of the elements of nature. River valleys are the credles of civilization from beginning of the  world. Aryan  civilization grew around the towns and villages on  the banks of the river Ganga. Varanasi which is one of  the cities  on the  banks  of  the  river  Ganga  is considered to  be one of the oldest human settlements in the world. It  is the popular belief that the river Ganga is the purifier of  all but  we are  now led  to the situation that

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action has to be taken to prevent the pollution of the water of the  river Ganga  since we  have reached a stage that any further pollution  of the river water is likely to lead to a catastrophe.  There  are  today  large  towns  inhabited  by millions of  people on  the banks  of the river Ganga. There are also  large industries on its banks. Sewage of the towns and cities on the banks of the river and the trade effluents of the factories and other industries are continuously being discharged into  the river.  It  is  the  complaint  of  the petitioner that  neither the  Government nor  the people are giving adequate attention to stop the pollution of the river Ganga. Steps have, therefore, to be taken for the purpose of protecting the cleanliness of the stream in the river Ganga, which is  in fact  the life sustainer of a large part of the northern India.      When this petition came up for preliminary hearing, the Court directed  the issue  of notice under order 1 rule 8 of the  Code  of  Civil  Procedure  treating  this  case  as  a representative action by publishing the gist of the petition in the  newspapers in  circulation  in  northern  India  and calling  upon  all  the  industrialists  and  the  municipal corporations  and   the  town   municipal  councils   having jurisdiction over  the areas  through which  the river Ganga flows to appear before the Court and to show cause as to why directions should  not be  issued to  them as  prayed by the petitioner asking  them not to allow the trade effluents and the  sewage  into  the  river  Ganga  without  appropriately treating  them  before  discharging  them  into  the  river. Pursuant to the said notice a large number of industrialists and local bodies have entered 285 appearance  before  the  Court.  Some  of  them  have  filed counteraffidavits explaining  the steps  taken by  them  for treating the  trade effluents  before discharging t-hem into the river.  When the  above case  came up  for consideration before the  Court on  the last  date of  hearing we directed that the  case against  the tanneries  at Jajmau  area  near Kanpur would  be taken  up for hearing first. Respondents 14 to 87  and  89  are  the  tanneries  near  Kanpur.  Of  them respondents 16  to 32, 34 to 36, 43, 47, 51, 52, 54, 55, 57, 58, 60 to 62, 64, 67 to 69, 72, 74, 75, 77 to 82, 85, 87 and 89 are  represented by  counsel. The remaining tanneries did not appear  before the  Court at the time of the hearing nor were they represented by any counsel.      Before proceeding to consider the facts of this case it is necessary  to state  a few  words about the importance of and need for protecting our environment. Article 48-A of the Constitution provides  that the  State  shall  endeavour  to protect and  improve the  environment and  to safeguard  the forests and  wild life  of the  country. Article 51-A of the Constitution imposes  as one  of the  fundamental duties  on every citizen  the duty  to protect  and improve the natural environment including  forests, lakes,  rivers and wild life and  to   have  compassion   for   living   creatures.   The proclamation adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment  which took place at Stockholm from 5th to 16th of June, 1972 and in which the Indian delegation led by the Prime Minister of India took a leading role runs thus:                "1. Man  is both  creature and moulder of his           environment which  gives him  physical  sustenance           and affords  him the opportunity for intellectual,           moral, social  and spiritual  growth. In  the long           and tortuous  evolution of  the human race on this           planet a  stage has  been reached when through the           rapid acceleration  of science and technology, man

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         has  acquired   the   power   to   transform   his           environment  in   countless   ways   and   on   an           unprecedented  scale.   Both  aspects   of   man’s           environment, the  natural and  the  man-made,  are           essential to  his well-being  and to the enjoyment           of basic  human  rights-even  the  right  to  life           itself.                2. The  protection  and  improvement  of  the           human environment  is a  major issue which affects           the well-being of peoples and economic development           throughout the  world; it  is the urgent desire of           the peoples of the whole world and the duty of all           Governments. 286                3. Man  has constantly  to sum  up experience           and go  on discovering,  inventing,  creating  and           advancing.  In   our  time   man’s  capability  to           transform his  surroundings, if  used wisely,  can           bring to  all peoples  the benefits of development           and the  opportunity to  enhance  the  quality  of           life. Wrongly  or  heedlessly  applied,  the  same           power can do incalculable harm to human beings and           the human  environment. We  see around  us growing           evidence of  man-made harm  in many regions of the           earth; dangerous  levels of  pollution  in  water,           air,  earth   and   living   beings;   major   and           undesirable disturbances to the ecological balance           of the  biosphere; destruction  and  depletion  of           irreplaceable resources;  and  gross  deficiencies           harmful to  the physical, mental and social health           of man,  in the man-made environment; particularly           in the living and working environment.                A point  has been  reached in history when we           must shape our actions throughout the world with a           more  prudent   care   for   their   environmental           consequences. Through ignorance or indifference we           can  do  massive  and  irreversible  harm  to  the           earthly environment  on which  our life  and well-           being depend. Conversely, through fuller knowledge           and wiser action, we can achieve for ourselves and           our posterity a better life in an environment more           in keeping  with human  needs and hopes. There are           broad vistas  for the enhancement of environmental           quality and  the creation  of a good life. What is           needed is  an enthusiastic  but calm state of mind           and intense  but orderly  work. For the purpose of           attaining freedom in the world of nature, man must           use  knowledge  to  build  in  collaboration  with           nature a better environment. To defend and improve           the  human  environment  for  present  and  future           generations has  become  an  imperative  goal  for           mankind-a goal to be pursued together with, and in           harmony  with,  the  established  and  fundamental           goals of  peace and  of  world-wide  economic  and           social development.                To  achieve   this  environmental  goal  will           demand  the   acceptance  of   responsibility   by           citizens and  communities and  by enterprises  and           institutions at every level, all sharing equitably           in common  efforts. Individuals  in all  walks  of           life as  well as  organizations in many fields, by           their values  and the  sum of  their actions, will           shape the world environ- 287           ment of the future. Local and National Governments

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         will bear  the  greatest  burden  for  large-scale           environmental  policy   and  action  within  their           jurisdictions. International  co-operation is also           needed in  order to raise resources to support the           developing   countries    carrying    out    their           responsibilities in this field. A growing class of           environmental problems,  because they are regional           or global  in extent  or because  they affect  the           common international realm, will require extensive           co-operation   among   nations   and   action   by           international   organizations    in   the   common           interest.   The    Conference   calls   upon   the           Governments and  peoples to  exert common  efforts           for the  preservation and improvement of the human           environment, for the benefit of all the people and           for their posterity."                The  proclamation   also  contained   certain           common convictions  of the participant nations and           made certain  recommendations on  development  and           environment. The common convictions stated include           the  conviction   that  the   discharge  of  toxic           substances or  of other substances and the release           of heat in such quantities or concentrations as to           exceed the  capacity of environment to render them           harmless must  be halted  in order  to ensure that           serious or  irreversible damage  is not  inflicted           upon eco  systems,  that  States  shall  take  all           possible steps to prevent pollution of the seas so           that hazards  to  human  health,  harm  to  living           resources and marine life, damage to the amenities           or interference with other legitimate uses of seas           is avoided  that the  environmental policies would           enhance and  not adversely  affect the present and           future  development   potential   of   development           countries, that  science and technology as part of           their  contributions   to  economic   and   social           development must  be applied  with identification,           avoidance and  control of  environmental risks and           the solution of environmental problems and for the           common good  of  mankind,  that  States  have  the           responsibility  to   ensure  that   activities  of           exploitation of  their own  resources within their           jurisdiction  are  controlled  and  do  not  cause           damage to the environment of other States or areas           beyond the limit of national jurisdiction, that it           will be  essential in  all cases  to consider  the           systems of  values prevailing  in each country and           the extent of the applicability of standards which           are valid  for the  most  advanced  countries  but           which may be inappropriate 288           and of  unwarranted social  cost and  that man and           his environment  must be  spared  the  effects  of           nuclear  weapons  and  all  other  means  of  mass           destruction. These are only some of the statements           of  principles   proclaimed   by   the   Stockholm           Conference.           (Vide  Lal’s   Commentaries  on   Water  and   Air           Pollution Laws (2nd Edn. ) pages 6-7      Realising the  importance of the prevention and control of pollution  of water  for human  existence Parliament  has passed the  Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (Act  6 of 1974) (hereinafter referred to as ’the Act’) to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution and the  maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness of water,

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for the  establishment, with  a view  to  carrying  out  the purposes aforesaid, of Boards for the prevention and control of water  pollution, for conferring on and assigning to such Boards powers and functions relating thereto and for matters connected  therewith.   The  Act   was  passed  pursuant  to resolutions passed  by all the Houses of Legislatures of the States of  Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu  and   Kashmir,  Karnataka,  Kerala,  Madhya  Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tripura  and West  Bengal  under  clause  (1)  of Article 252  of the  Constitution to  the  effect  that  the prevention  and   control  of   water  pollution  should  be regulated in  those States by Parliamentary legislation. The Act has  been since  adopted by  the State  of Uttar Pradesh also by  resolutions passed  in that behalf by the Houses of Legislature of  the  said  State  in  the  year  1975  (vide notification No. 897/ix-3-l00-74 dated 3.2.1975). Section 24 of the  Act prohibits  the use  of any  stream or  well  for disposal of  polluting matter  etc. It provides that subject to the  provisions of  the  said  section  no  person  shall knowingly  cause   or  permit   any  poisonous,  noxious  or polluting  matter   determined  in   accordance  with   such standards as  may be  laid down  by the State Board to enter whether directly or indirectly into any stream or well or no person shall  knowingly cause  or permit  to enter  into any stream any other matter which may tend either directly or in combination with  similar matters  to impede the proper flow of the  water of the stream in a manner leading or likely to lead to  a substantial aggravation of pollution due to other causes or  of its  consequences. The  expression  stream  is defined by section 2(j) of the Act as including river, water course whether  flowing or  for the  time being  dry, inland water whether  natural or  artificial, sub-terranean waters, sea or  tidal waters to such extent or as the case may be to such point  as the  State Government  may by notification in the official Gazette, 289 specify in  that behalf.  Under the Act it is permissible to establish  a   Central  Board  and  the  State  Boards.  The functions of  the Central  Board and  the State  Boards  are described in  section 16  and 17  respectively. One  of  the functions of  the State  Board is to inspect sewage or trade effluents, works  and plants for the treatment of sewage and trade effluents,  and to  review  plans,  specifications  or other data  relating to  plants set  up for the treatment of water, works  for the  purification and  the system  for the disposal of  sewage or  trade  effluents.  ’Trade  effluent’ includes any  liquid, gaseous  or solid  substance which  is discharged from  any premises used for carrying on any trade or industry,  other than domestic sewage. The State Board is also entrusted  with the  work of  laying down  standards of treatment of  sewage and  trade effluents  to be  discharged into any  particular stream  taking into account the minimum fair weather  dilution available  in  that  stream  and  the tolerance limits  of pollution  permissible in  the water of the stream, after the discharge of such effluents. The State Board is also entrusted with the power of making application to courts  for restraining apprehended pollution of water in streams  or   wells.   Notwithstanding   the   comprehensive provisions contained in the Act no effective steps appear to have been  taken by  the State  Board so  far to prevent the discharge of  effluents of  the Jajmau  near Kanpur  to  the river Ganga.  The fact  that such  effluents are being first discharged into  the municipal sewerage does not absolve the tanneries from  being proceeded against under the provisions of the law in force since ultimately the effluents reach the

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river Ganga from the sewerage system of the municipality.      In addition  to the  above  Act,  Parliament  has  also passed the  Environment (Protection)  Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) which has  been brought  into force  throughout  India  with effect from November 19, 1986. Section 3 of this Act confers power on the Central Government to take all such measures as it  deems   necessary  or   expedient  for  the  purpose  of protecting and  improving the quality of the environment and preventing, controlling and abating environmental pollution. ’Environment’ includes  water, air  and land  and the inter- relationship which  exists among  and between water, air and land and  human  beings,  other  living  creatures,  plants, micro-organism and  property.  (Vide  section  2(a)  of  the Environment (Protection)  Act, 1986). Under Section 3(2)(iv) of  the  said  Act  the  Central  Government  may  lay  down standards  for   emission  or   discharge  of  environmental pollutants from  various sources whatsoever. Notwithstanding anything contained  in any  other law  but  subject  to  the provisions of  the Environment  (Protection) Act,  1986, the Central Government may under section S of the 290 Act, in  the exercise  of its  powers and performance of its functions under  that Act issue directions in writing to any person, officer  or authority and such authority is bound to comply with  such directions.  The power to issue directions under the  said section  includes the  power to  direct  the closure,  prohibition   or  regulation   of  any   industry, operation or process or stoppage or regulation of the supply of electricity  or water  or any other service. Section 9 of the said Act imposes a duty on every person to take steps to prevent or  mitigate the environmental pollution. Section 15 of the  said Act  contains provisions  relating to penalties that may  be imposed  for the  contravention of  any of  the provisions of  the said Act or directions issued thereunder. It is  to be  noticed that not much has been done even under this Act  by the Central Government to stop the grave public nuisance caused by the tanneries at Jajmau, Kanpur.      All  the   tanneries  at   Jajmau,  Kanpur  which  were represented by  counsel, except  respondent Nos.  87 and  89 have relied  upon a  common counter-affidavit  filed by them and their  case is  argued by  Shri S.K.  Dholakia and  Shri Mukul Mudgal.  Respondent No. 87 is represented by Shri R.P. Gupta and  respondent No.  89  is  represented  by  Shri  P. Narasimhan. There  is not  much dispute on the question that the discharge  of the  trade effluents  from these tanneries into the river Ganga has been causing considerable damage to the life  of the people who use the water of the river Ganga and also  to the aquatic life in the river. The tanneries at Jajmau in  Kanpur  have  themselves  formed  an  association called Jajmau Tanners Pollution Control Association with the objects among others:      (1) To  establish,  equip  and  maintain  laboratories, workshop,  institutes,   organisations  and   factories  for conducting and  carrying on  p experiments  and  to  provide funds for the main objects of the Company.      (2)  To  procure  and  import  wherever  necessary  the chemicals etc.  for the  purpose  of  pollution  control  in tanning industries.      (3) To  set up  and maintain  common effluent treatment plant for member tanners in and around Jajmau.      (4) To  make periodical  charges  on  members  for  the effluent treatment  based on  the benefit he/it derives from time to  time to  meet the  common expenses for maintenance, replacement incurred towards effluent treatment. 291

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    In the  Fiscal Plan  for  setting  up  common  Effluent Treatment Plants  for Indian  Tanning Industry-(March, 1986) prepared by  the committee  constituted by  the  Directorate General of Technical Development (Government of India) it is observed thus:-                "Leather industry  is one  of the three major           industries besides  paper and  textiles  consuming           large quantities  of water for processing of hides           and skins into leather Naturally most of the water           used is  discharged as  wastewater. The wastewater           contains putrescible  organic and  toxic inorganic           materials  which  when  discharged  as  such  will           deplete dissolved  oxygen content of the receiving           water  courses  resulting  in  the  death  of  all           acquatic life  and emanating  foul odour. Disposal           of these  untreated  effluents  on  to  land  will           pollute the ground water resources. Discharging of           these  effluents  without  treatment  into  public           sewers results in the choking of sewers.                Realising  the   importance  of  keeping  the           environment clean,  the Government  of  India  has           enacted the  Water Pollution  Control Act (Central           Act 6 of 1974) and almost all the State Government           have adopted  the Act  and implementing the Act by           forming the  Pollution  Control  Boards  in  their           respective states.  The Pollution  Control  Boards           have been  insisting that  all industries  have to           treat their  effluents to the prescribed standards           and leather industry is no exception to this rule.           Tanneries situated  all over the country have been           faced  with   the  problem   of   treating   their           effluents. Seized  with the problem of finding out           a   solution,   the   Central   Leather   Research           Institute, Madras  has brought  out  a  Management           Investment Report  (CLRI Core Committee Report) as           early  as  1976  which  contains  14  flow  sheets           indicating the  treatment technologies for various           types of  leather processing  techniques, quantity           of  effluents   etc.   including   the   cost   of           treatment."      A monograph  entitled ’Treatment  Technology of Tannery Effluents’ prepared  by S. Rajamani, W. Madavakrishna and G. Thyagarajan  of  the  Central  Leather  Research  Institute, Adyar, Madras states that generally the wastewater from beam house process  namely soaking,  liming,  deliming  etc.  are highly alkaline containing decomposing organic matter, hair, lime sulphide  etc. and  is nearly  ten times  as strong  as domestic sewage and refers to the various methods 292 by which  the effluents  of the  tanneries could  be treated before their  discharge into  any river. They recommend four types of  wastewater treatment  technology  so  far  as  the tanneries  are   concerned  -1)  segregation  or  mixing  of suitable sectional waste water from different processes; (2) primary treatment;  (3) secondary  biological treatment; and (4) disposal  of solid wastes from the treatment system. The said monograph  explains the  work at  the primary treatment unit thus:-           "The primary  treatment units principally comprise           of coarse  screens, two  numbers of settling tanks           and sludge drying beds. The settling tank, each of           about 1-2  days capacity  acts as an equalisation-           cum-setting  tank  as  well.  As  an  alternative,           clarifier can  be provided  in place  of  settling           tank  for   treating  higher  capacity  effluents.

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         Depending on  the quality  of composite  effluent,           addition  of  neutralising  chemicals  like  lime,           alum, ferric  chloride etc.  would be required for           effective precipitation of chromium and removal of           suspended solids in the sedimentation process. The           sludge from  the settling  tanks and  clarifier is           removed and dried on sludge drying beds made up of           filtering  media   gravel,  sand   and  supporting           masonary  structure.   For  operational   reasons,           sludge drying  beds are  divided into four or more           compartments. The  dried sludge  from  the  sludge           drying beds  can be used as manure or for landfill           if it  is vegetable  tannery  waste.  In  case  of           chrome tannery  waste, the  dried sludge should be           buried  or   disposed  off  suitably  as  per  the           directions  of   regulatory  agencies   and  local           bodies. "      The secondary treatment units are explained in the said monograph thus:                "The  pre-treated   effluent  needs  suitable           secondary  biological   treatment  to   meet   the           pollution   control    standards.   The    general           biological treatment  units which  can be  adopted           under  Indian  conditions  are  anaerobic  lagoon,           aerated lagoon,  extended  aeration  systems  like           oxidation ditch, activated sludge process etc.                Anaerobic  lagoon   is  a   simple  anaerobic           treatment unit  suitable for  effluents with  high           BOD  like   vegetable  tannery   (Raw  to   E.  1)           wastewater. In depth of the lagoon varies from 3-5           metres and detention time from l0-20 days 293           depending   upon    the   pollutional   load   and           atmospheric  conditions.  This  is  an  open  type           digester with  no provision for gas collection. No           power  is   required  for   this  system  and  its           performance is  proved to  be efficient  in  South           Indian conditions.                Anaerobic  contract   filter   is   also   an           anaerobic treatment  unit. This  is a  closed tank           type unit  made up  of R.C.C. Or masonry structure           filled up  with media  like broken  granite stones           etc. This  unit occupies  less land area since the           detention time is about 1-2 days only. This system           is reported  to be  efficient  for  treating  high           organic  load,  but  the  capital  cost  would  be           comparatively high.                Aerated lagoon  is a shallow water tight pond           of about 2-3 metres depth with a detention time of           about 4-6  days. Fixed  or floating  type  surface           aerators are  provided  to  transfer  oxygen  from           atmospheric air  to the  effluent  for  biological           treatment  using   micro-organisms  under  aerobic           conditions. The  system is  suitable for  treating           low organic load.                Extended  aeration  systems  like  ’activated           sludge process’  and  ’oxidation  ditch’  are  the           improved  aerobic   biological  treatment  systems           occupying  less  land  area  since  the  detention           time/capacity would  be only about 1-2 days. These           units require  secondary settling  tank and sludge           recirculation  arrangements.   Extended   aeration           systems  are   proved   to   be   efficient.   The           operational and  maintenance cost is comparatively           high for smaller installations, but economical for

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         treatment capacity of 150 M3 and above per day. "      A study  of the conditions prevailing at Jajmau, Kanpur was  made   by  the   Sub-Committee  on   Effluent  Disposal constituted by  the  Development  Council  for  Leather  and Leather Goods  Industries along  with the  various tanneries situated in  some other  parts of  India and  in its  report submitted in  April, 1984, the Sub-Committee has observed in the case of the tanneries at Jajmau, Kanpur thus:-                "In the case of Jajmau, Kanpur, the committee           visited few  tanneries where  the effort  has been           made to  have primary  treatment of  the  effluent           before it is dis- 294           charged to  the  common  drain/the  river  Ganges.           There are  60 tanneries  in Jajmau  which will  be           covered under  joint effluent  disposal. The total           production is  to the  tune of  12000 hides with a           total discharge  of 5  million litres per day. The           State Government  has taken  appropriate steps  in           preparation of  the feasibility  report under  the           guidance of  U.P. Pollution  Control  Board.  This           proposal was  also supported  by Central Pollution           Board, Delhi by sharing the total fee of Rs.80,000           to  be  paid  to  the  Public  Health  Engineering           Consultancy, Bombay  which has prepared the report           with the  help of IIT, Bombay. The report suggests           that each  tannery should make arrangement for the           primary treatment  of their  effluent and  then it           will be discharged into common treatment plant."      There is  a reference  to the  Jajmau tanneries  in ’an Action Plan  for  Prevention  of  Pollution  of  the  Ganga’ prepared by  the Department  of Environment,  Government  of India in the year 1985, which is as under:-           "1.1  The   Ganga  drains  eight  States  Himachal           Pradesh,   Punjab,    Haryana,   Uttar    Pradesh,           Rajasthan, Madhya  Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and           the Union  Territory of Delhi. It is also the most           important river  of India  and has  served as  the           cradle  of   Indian  Civilization.  Several  major           pilgrim centres  have existed  on  its  banks  for           centuries and  millions of people come to bathe in           the river  during religious  festivals, especially           the Kumbhs  of Haridwar  and Allahabad. Many towns           on the  Ganga, e.g.,  Kanpur. Allahabad, Patna and           Calcutta have very large populations and the river           also serves  as the  source of  water  supply  for           these towns.  The Ganga is, however, being grossly           polluted especially near the towns situated on its           banks. Urgent  steps need  to be  taken to prevent           this pollution  and restore  the purity  of  river           water.           2.0. Sources of Pollution           2.1 The main sources of pollution of the Ganga are           the following:-                Urban liquid  waste (Sewage,  storm  drainage           mixed  with  sewage,  human,  cattle  and  kitchen           wastes carried by drains etc. ) 295                Industrial liquid waste A                Surface  run-off  of  cultivated  land  where           cultivators use  chemical fertilisers, pesticides,           insecticides and  such manures the mixing of which           may make  the river  water unsafe for drinking and           bathing.                Surface run-off  from areas  on  which  urban

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         solid wastes are dumped                Surface   run-off   from   areas   on   which           industrial solid wastes are dumped           .........................................           4.4.12 Effluent from industries:                Under the  laws of the land the responsibilty           for treatment  of the industrial effluents is that           of the  industry. While  the  concept  of  ’Strict           Liability’ should  be adhered  to in  some  cases,           circumstances may  require that plans for sewerage           and treatment  systems should  consider industrial           effluents as  well. Clusters  of small  industries           located in  a contiguous  area near the river bank           and causing  direct pollution to the river such as           the tanneries  in Jajmau  in Kanpur  is a  case in           point. In  some  cases,  waste  waters  from  some           industrial units  may have  already been connected           to the  city sewer and, therefore, merit treatment           along with  the sewage  in  the  sewage  treatment           plant. It  may also  be necessary  in some crowded           areas to  accept wastewaters  of industries  in  a           city sewer  to be  fed  to  the  treatment  plant,           provided the  industrial waste  is free from heavy           metals, toxic  chemicals  and  is  not  abnormally           acidic or alkaline.                In such  circumstances, scheme proposals have           to carefully  examine the  case of  integrating or           segregating  industrial  wastes  for  purposes  of           conveyance and treatment as also the possibilities           for appointment  of capital  and  operating  costs           between the  city authorities  and the  industries           concerned." (emphasis added)      Appearing on  behalf of  the Department of Environment, (Government  of   India,  Shri  B.  Dutta  the  learned  Ist Additional H 296 Solicitor General  of India  placed before  us a  memorandum explaining the  existing situation at Jajmau area of Kanpur. It reads thus:                "Status regarding  construction of  treatment           facilities for  treatment of wastes from Tanneries           in Jajmau area of Kanpur.                1. About 70 small, medium and large tanneries           are located  in  Jajmau  area  of  Kanpur.  On  an           average they generate 4.5 MLD of waste water.                2. Under  the existing  laws, tanneries  like           other industries are expected to provide treatment           of  their   effluents   to   different   standards           depending on  whether these  are  discharged  into           stream or  land. It  is the  responsibility of the           industry concerned  to ensure  that the quality of           the wastewater conforms to the standards laid down                3. From  time to  time, tanneries  of  Kanpur           have re  presented that  due to  lack of  physical           facilities, technical  knowhow and  funds, it  has           not been  possible to  install adequate  treatment           facilities.                4. Jajmau is an environmentally degraded area           of Kanpur.  The location  of numerous tanneries in           the area  is a  major cause  of  the  degradation.           Civic facilities  for  water  supply,  sanitation,           solid  waste   removal  etc.   are   also   highly           inadequate.  Because  the  area  abuts  the  Ganga           river, its  pollution affects the river quality as           well. Accordingly,  under the Ganga Action Plan an

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         integrated sanitation  project is  being taken  up           for the  Jajmau area.  Some aspects  of  the  Plan           relate to tannery wastes as follows:                (i) The  medium and  large units will have to           up pre  treatment facilities  to ensure  that  the           standard of  sewage discharged  into the municipal           sewer also  conform to  the standards  laid  down.           Scientific institutions  such as  Central  Leather           Research   Institute    are   looking   into   the           possibility of  pretreatment including recovery of           materials such as chromium. The setting up of pre-           treatment facility in the respective units will be           the  responsibility   of  the   individual   units           concerned. The  Ganga Project  Directorate as part           of the Ganga Action Plan, will play a facilitative           role to 297           demonstrate application of modern technologies for           cost A  effective pre-treatment  which  the  small           tanners can afford.                (ii) Since  the  wastes  will  be  ultimately           discharged into  the river, the waste will have to           further conform  to the  standards laid  down  for           discharge into  the stream.  For this  purpose, it           will be  necessary to  treat the waste further and           as part of the Ganga Action Plan a treatment plant           will be  constructed for  this  purpose  utilising           some advanced  processes. It  is also  proposed to           combine the  domestic waste  with  the  industrial           waste conveyed  through the industrial sewer which           will then be treated in a treatment plant                (iii) It  is  estimated  that  cost  of  this           proposed  sewage  treatment  facility  which  will           treat the  waste from the domestic sources and the           pretreated wastes  from tanneries  will  be  about           Rs.2.5 crores.  It will  have a capacity of 25 MLD           and the  first demonstration module of about 5 MLD           is expected  to be  installed  in  early  1988-89.           Necessary work  for designing  of  the  plant  has           already  been  initiated  and  the  infrastructure           facilities such  as  availability  of  land,  soil           testing  etc.   have  also  been  ensured.  Tender           specifications  are   being  provided  and  it  is           expected that the tenders will be floated sometime           in October 87. It is expected that in the combined           treatment facility of 25 MLD, about 20 MLD will be           from the  domestic sources  and 5 MLD will be from           the tanneries after pretreatment in the region."      In  the   counter-affidavit  filed  on  behalf  of  the Hindustan Chambers  of Commerce, of which 43 respondents are members it  is admitted  that the  tanneries discharge their trade effluents  into the  sewage nullah  which leads to the municipal sewage plant before they are thrown into the river Ganga. It is not disputed by any of the respondents that the water in  the river  Ganga is  being polluted grossly by the effluent discharged  by the  tanneries. We are informed that six of  the  tanneries  have  already  set  up  the  primary treatment plants  for carrying  out the pre-treatment of the effluent before it is discharged into the municipal Sewerage which ultimately  leads to  the river Ganga. About 14 of the tanneries are  stated to  be engaged  in the construction of the primary treatment plants. It is pleaded on behalf of the rest of  the tanneries  who are the members of the Hindustan Chambers of  Commerce and  three other tanneries represented by Shir  Mukul Mudgal  that if some time is given to them to

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establish the pre-treatment plants they would H 298 do so.  lt is,  however, submitted  by all  of them  that it would not  be possible for them to have the secondary system for treating  wastewater  as  that  would  involve  enormous expenditure which the tanneries themselves would not be able to meet.  It is  true that  it may  not be  possible for the tanneries to  establish  immediately  the  secondary  system plant in  view of  the large expenditure involved but having regard to the adverse effect the effluents are having on the river water,  the tanneries  at Jajmau,  Kanpur  should,  at least set up of the primary treatment plants and that is the minimum which  the tanneries  should do in the circumstances of the case. In the counter-affidavit filed on behalf of the Hindustan Chamber  of Commerce  it is  seen that the cost of pretreatment plant  for a  ’A’ class tannery is Rs.3,68,000, the cost of the plant for a ’B’ class tannery is Rs.2,30,000 and the cost of the plant for ’C’ class tannery is Rs.50,000 This cost  does not  appear to  be excessive.  The financial capacity of the tanneries should be considered as irrelevant while requiring  them to establish primary treatment plants. Just like  an industry which cannot pay minimum wages to its workers cannot  be allowed  to exist  a tannery which cannot set up  a primary  treatment plant  cannot be  permitted  to continue to  be in  existence for  the adverse effect on the public at  large which is likely to ensue by the discharging of the  trade effluents  from the tannery to the river Ganga would be immense and it will outweigh any inconvenience that may be  caused to  the management and the labour employed by it on  account  of  its  closure.  Moreover,  the  tanneries involved in  these cases  are not  taken  by  surprise.  For several years  they are  being asked to take necessary steps to prevent  the flow  of  untreated  wastewater  from  their factories into the river. Some of them have already complied with the  demand. It  should be remembered that the effluent discharged from a tannery is ten times noxious when compared with the  domestic sewage  water which  flows into the river from any  urban  areas  on  its  banks.  We  feel  that  the tanneries at Jajmau, Kanpur cannot be allowed to continue to carry on  the industrial  activity unless they take steps to establish primary  treatment plants. In cases of this nature this Court may issue appropriate directions if it finds that the public  nuisance or  other  wrongful  act  affecting  or likely to  affect the  public is  being  committed  and  the statutory authorities  who are  charged  with  the  duty  to prevent it  are not  taking adequate  steps to  rectify  the grievance. For  every breach  of a  right there  should be a remedy. It  is unfortunate  that a  number of  tanneries  at Jajmau even  though they are aware of these proceedings have not cared  even to enter appearance in this Court to express their willingness to take appropriate steps to establish the pretreatment plants.  So far  as they are concerned an order directing them  to stop  working their  tanneries should  be passed. 299 We accordingly  direct M/s. Delight Tannery (respondent 14), M/s. Hindustan Tannery (respondent 15), M/s. Primer Allarmin Tannery (respondent  33), M/s.  Mahaboob Tannery (respondent 37), M/s.  Popular Tannery  (respondent 38),  M/s.  Standard Tannery (respondent  39), M/s.  Vikash  Tarmery  (respondent 40), M/s.  New Golden  Tannery (respondent  41),  M/s.  D.D. Tannery (respondent  42), M/s.  Himalaya Tannery (respondent 44), M/s.  Commercial Industry  (respondent 45), M/s. Madina Tannery (respondent  46), M/s.  Kanpur  Tannery  (respondent 48), M/s.  New Jab  Tannery  (respondent  49),  M/s.  Famous

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Tannery (respondent 50), M/s. Glaxy Tannery (respondent 53), M/s. Bengal  Tannery (respondent  56), M/s. Chhangal Tannery (respondent 59),  M/s.Nadari Tannery  (respondent 63),  M/s. Jajmau Tanners  (respondent 65),  M/s. International Tanning Industry (respondent  66), M/s. Poorwanchal Tanning Industry (respondent 70), M/s. Navratan Tanning (respondent 71), M/s. Haroou  Tannery   (respondent  73),  M/s.  Himalaya  Tanners (respondent 76), M/s. R.A. Traders (respondent 79, M/s. Alam Tannery (respondent  83), M/s. G.T. Tannery (respondent 84), and M/s.  Awadh Tannery  (respondent 86) to stop the running of their  tanneries and  also not to let out trade effluents from their  tanneries either directly or indirectly into the river Ganga  without subjecting  the trade  effluents  to  a pretreatment process  by setting up primary treatment plants as approved  by the  State Board  (respondent 8) with effect from 1. l0.1987.      M/s. Indian  Tanning Industry (respondent 30), the U.P. Tannery (respondent  19), M/s.  Zaz Tannery (respondent 28), M/s. Super  Tannery India  Ltd. (respondent 21), M/s. Shewan Tannery (respondent  20), M/s.  Pioneer Tannery  (respondent 23), and  M/s. M.K.J.  Corporation (respondent  89) who have already put  up the primary treatment plants may continue to carry on  production  in  their  factories  subject  to  the condition that  they should  continue to  keep  the  primary treatment plants established by them in sound working order.      Shri S.K.  Dholakia,  learned  counsel  for  the  other tanneries who  are members  of  the  Hindustan  Chambers  of Commerce and the other tanneries who have entered appearance through Shri  Mukul Mudgal  submits that they will establish primary treatment  plants within  six months  and he further submits that  in the  event  of  their  not  completing  the construction of  the primary treatment plants as approved by the State  Board  (respondent  8)  and  bringing  them  into operation within the period of six months the said tanneries will  stop   carrying  on  their  business.  We  record  the statement made  by the  learned counsel  and grant them time till 31.3.1988 to set up the primary treatment plants. If 300 any of  these tanneries  does not set up a primary treatment plant within  31.3.1988 it  is directed to stop its business with effect from 1.4.1988.      We issue  a direction  to the  Central Government,  the Uttar Pradesh Board, established under the provisions of the Water (Prevention  and Control  of Pollution)  Act, 1974 and the  District   Magistrate,  Kanpur  to  enforce  our  order faithfully. Copies  of this  order shall be cent to them for information      The case is adjourned to 27th October, 1987 to consider the case  against the municipal bodies in the State of Uttar Pradesh having jurisdiction over the areas through which the river Ganga is passing.      SINGH, J.  I respectfully agree with every word what my learned brother Venkataramiah, J. has stated in the proposed order and  the directions  issued by  that order. However, I wish to add few words.      The river  Ganga is  one of  the greatest rivers of the world, although  its entire  course is  only 1560 miles from its source  in Himalaya  to the  sea. There  are many rivers larger in shape and longer in size but no river in the world has been  so great  as the  Ganga. It  is great  because  to millions of  people since  centuries it  is the  most sacred river.  It   is  called   "Sursari"  river   of  the   Gods, ’Patitpawani’ purifier  of all  sins and  ’Ganga Ma’  Mother Ganges. To  millions of  Hindus, it is the most sacred, most venerated river  on earth.  According the  Hindu belief  and

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mythology to  bathe in  it, is  to wash away guilt, to drink the water,  having bathed  in it,  and to  carry it  away in containers for  those who  may have not had the good fortune to make  the  pilgrimage,  to  it,  is  meritorious.  To  be cremated on  its banks,  or to  die there, and to have one’s ashes cast on its waters, is the wish of every Hindu. Many P saints and  sages have persued their quest for knowledge and enlightenment on the banks of the river Ganga. Its water has not only  purified the  body and soul of the millions but it has given  fertile land  to the country in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Ganga  has been  used as means of water transport for trade and  commerce. The Indian civilization of the Northern India thrived  in the  plains  of  Ganga  and  most  of  the important towns and places of pilgrimage are situated on its banks. The  river Ganga has been part of Hindu civilization. Pt. Jawahar  Lal Nehru who did not consider himself a devout Hindu gave  expression to his feelings for the Ganga that is to be  found in his Will and Testament, a short extract from which is as under:           "My desire  to have  a handful  of my ashes thrown           into the 301      Ganga at  Allahabad has  no religious  significance, so      far as I am concerned. I have no religious sentiment in      the matter.  I have  been attached to the Ganga and the      Jamuna rivers in Allahabad ever since my childhood and,      as I  have grown older, this attachment has also grown.      I have  watched their  varying  moods  as  the  seasons      changed, and have often thought of the history and myth      and tradition  and song  and  story  that  have  become      attached to  them through the long ages and become part      of their  flowing waters. The Ganga, especially, as the      river of  India, beloved of her people, round which are      intertwined her  racial memories,  her hopes and fears,      her songs  of triumph,  her victories  and her defeats.      She has  been a  symbol of India’s age-long culture and      civilization, ever-changing, ever-flowing, and yet ever      the same  Ganga. She  reminds me  of  the  snow-covered      peaks and  the deep  valleys of  the Himalayas, which I      have loved  so much,  and of  the rich  and vast plains      below, where my life and work have been cast."      The river  Ganga is the life line of millions of people of India,  Indian culture  and civilization has grown around it. This  great river  drains  of  eight  States  of  India, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh,  Bihar and West Bengal. The Ganga has always been an  integral part  of the nation’s history, culture and environment. It  has been  the source  of sustenance  of the millions of  people who  have lived  on its  banks from time immemorial.      Millions of  our people  bathe in  the Ganga  drink its water under an abiding faith and belief to purify themselves and to  achieve moksha  release from  the cycle of birth and death. It  is tragic  that the  Ganga, which  has since time immemorial, purified  the people is being polluted by man in numerous ways,  by dumping  of garbage,  throwing carcass of dead  animals   and  discharge   of  effluents.   Scientific investigations and  survey reports have shown that the Ganga which serves one-third of the India’s population is polluted by the  discharge of  municipal sewage  and  the  industrial effluents in  the river. The pollution of the river Ganga is affecting the life, health, and ecology of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The  Government as well as Parliament both have taken a number  of steps  to  control  the  water  pollution,  but nothing substantial  has been  achieved. I need not refer to

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those steps  as my  learned brother  has referred to them in detail. No  law or  authority can  succeed in  removing  the pollution unless the people cooperate. To my mind, it is the sacred duty  of all  those who  reside or  carry on business around 302 the river  Ganga to ensure the purity of Ganga. Tanneries at Jajmau area  near Kanpur  have been polluting the Ganga in a big way.  This Court  issued notices to them but in spite of notice many  industrialists  have  not  bothered  either  to respond to  the notice  or to  take elementary steps for the treatment of industrial effluent before discharging the same into the  river. We are therefore issuing the directions for the closure  of those  tanneries which  have failed  to take minimum  steps   required  for   the  primary  treatment  of industrial  effluent.  We  are  conscious  that  closure  of tanneries may bring unemployment, loss of revenue, but life, health and ecology have greater importance to the people. N.P.V. 303