The petition filed by V N Yerriswamy, a farmer of Belachinta and K G Yerriswami Gowda, a farmer from Karekal village, sought the Court to quash the factory licence issued by Karekal Gram Panchayat Secretary for setting up the steel plant. They said, the plant, planned on 275 acre land, would affect about 5,000 farmers while posing environmental hazards to about 20,000 citizens of 10 adjacent villages.

No authority

The petitioners contended that Karekal GP had no authority to grant licence, and that mandatory approvals and consent of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board(KSPCB) had not been obtained.

They also sought a direction to Bellary DC to stop the civil works taken up by the company on the lands of Belachinta and Sidiginamola village till completion of all legal formalities with regard to land acquisition; to direct Chief Inspector of Factories to prosecute the company for allegedly starting works without necessary approvals and without converting the agricultural lands for industrial use; and to direct KSPCB Environmental Officer, Bellary, to organise a meeting with villagers and decide as to the project after considering their objections.

The Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph admitted the petition.

They ordering emergent notices to departments of Revenue, and Environment and Ecology, Bellary DC, Chief Inspector of Factories and Boilers, M/s Basai Steels Pvt Ltd, KSPCB, KIADB and Karekal Gram Panchayat, among others.