Closed lab allowed to run to check if it is polluting

The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday directed a testing laboratory to continue operations till August 2 to enable the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to conduct a joint inspection of the unit.

Bureau Vertias Consumer Products Services India Pvt Ltd, a testing laboratory moved the court challenging the KSPCB order directing it to close down saying it was letting out untreated effluents into the drain.

During the hearing, KSPCB counsel submitted to the court that a joint inspection to check the pollution levels could not be held as the unit was closed. The counsel said that the bench can permit the functioning of the unit on a trial basis so that the board can conduct a joint inspection to ascertain whether the norms are maintained or not.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar directed the testing laboratory to keep functioning till August 2 and adjourned the hearing.