The bench directed the BBMB authorities to approch HP State Pollution Control Board before October 31, 2012 on the issue.
The BBMB had in its petition filed in High Court in the 2003 pleaded that silting was not covered under the provisions of The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 but the green bench comprising justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjay Karol dismissed the plea holding that there was no merit in the contention of the BBMB.
While referring to photographs on the subject, the bench in its 44-page order said that it was visible through naked eye that the BBMB was discharging the pollutant silt into Suketi Khud.
The judgment was passed on August 31 and the copy was made available today.
The water of beas for 990 MW Dehar power house of Beas Sutlej Link Project was diverted through a tunnel to Baggi through Pandoh Dam, upstream Mandi town and taken in a open channel from Baggi to Sunderngar Hydel channel and the BBMB used to eject silt at Baggi into Suketi Khud.
It also used to dredge out silt from balancing reservoir into Suketi Khud, which ultimately flew into the agricultural land into Balh Valley.
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Thousands of farmers were complaining that fertility of their lands had been reduced due to silting along 20 KM long stretch of Suketi Khud and water has been polluted as BBMB was discharging silt into the Khud without any permission from competent authorities and causing environmental problems in the area. PTI/CORR/PCL
RT