@JUDGMENTTAG-ORDER
1. By order dated 19-12-1996 this Court had directed that the Calcutta Tanneries operating in Tangra, Tiljola, Topsia and Pagla Danga areas in the eastern fringe city of Calcutta shall relocate themselves from their present location and shift to the new leather complex to be set up by the State of West Bengal. The learned Advocate General for the State of West Bengal states that about 1100 acres of land would he required to set up the said project out of which about 500 acres of land is available and as regards the remaining part proceedings for acquisition have been taken under the provisions of the West Bengal Act No. 2 of 1948. In connection with those proceedings certain writ petitions are pending in the Calcutta High Court in which interim orders have been passed and consequently it is not possible for the State Government to proceed with the project. The particulars of those writ petitions are as follows:
Title of the case Date of interim orders 1. CO No. 2989 (W) of 1994 9-2-1994 Jiad Ali Mollah and Ors. v. State of West Bengal and Ors. 2. CO No. 6913 (W) of 1994 9-2-1994 Shyamal Naskar and Ors. v. State of West Bengal and Ors. 3. CO No. 7985 (W) of 1994 9-2-1994 Bistu Mondal and Ors. v. State of West Bengal and Ors. 4. CO No. 13781 (W) of 1994 27-9-1994 Hazari Mondal and Ors. v. State of West Bengal and Ors. 5. CO No. 7985 (W) of 1994 27-9-1994 Dhirendra Mondal and Ors. v. State of West Bengal and Ors.
2. Since project is being held up on account of the interim orders that have been passed by the High Court in the aforementioned writ petitions we request the Hon'ble Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to give the necessary directions for constituting a Special Bench to hear and dispose of the said writ petitions as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of three months. In the meanwhile the State Government will proceed with the setting up of the project including the construction of the Common Effluent Treatment Plant.
3. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board is directed to file an affidavit indicating whether the direction given by this Court regarding deposit of Rs 10,000 as pollution fine has been complied with by the tanneries or not. If any of the tanneries has not paid the said amount the said affidavit shall indicate the names of such tanneries. The said affidavit shall be filed within four weeks.
4. The State of West Bengal shall also file an affidavit indicating the steps that they have taken to comply with the directions given by this Court which were required to be complied with by the State Government. Along with the said affidavit the State Government shall also place on record the site plan indicating the total areas as well as the areas in respect of which the interim orders have been passed by the High Court. The State shall file a status report about the progress which has been made. The said affidavit and the status report shall be filed by 15-3-1998. The status quo as regards relocation and shifting of the tanneries would continue for four months.
5. List the matters after three months.
Court Masters
