Chandigarh, May 15 (KNN) The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab government to take appropriate action against the dyeing mills near Ludhiana’s Central Jail which are alleged to be emitting toxic gases and effluents and causing adverse impact on the health of jail inmates.

The directions came after the amicus curiae appointed by the court on a PIL in this regard submitted the report.

The report supported with the photographs showing illegal activities of dyeing factory owners, also recommended prosecution of such factory owners in some case.

The report said the amicus curiae, along with two civil engineers from Ludhiana, conducted a spot inspection of Buddha Nullah and inspected the sewage treatment plant located opposite Central Jail in Ludhiana.

The appointed inspectors who conducted the inspection recommended closing down of all submersible pumps installed by the factory owners in their factories and has suggested re-cycling of treated water of STP again to the dyeing factories for utilization in the processes involved therein.

It was also recommended that the entire cost of providing infrastructure for recycling the treated sewage into dyeing factories should be contributed by the owners on the principle of “polluter must pay” as evolved by the Supreme Court of India.

Hearing the report, the bench asked the state to take appropriate steps within the next two weeks for addressing the concerns raised in his report. The state has also been asked to file a status report by May 29.