A cement and sponge iron factory at Jhargram in West Midnapore district, which is allegedly polluting the environment, has come under the scanner of the Calcutta High Court.

Hearing a petition, the Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Bhaskhar Bhattacharya and Justice Prasenjit Mondal asked the state government and West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) to file an affidavit within a week regarding the activities of the factory.

Advocate Sadhan Roy Choudhury moved a petition filed by Purba Kolkata Nagarik Mancha, a social organisation, stating that on July 7, 2009 the Pollution Control Appellate Authority (PCAA), West Bengal had directed the sponge iron factory of Reshmi Cement at Jhargram to close down.

The PCAA had also directed them not to reopen without obtaining the permission.

The PCAA conducted an inquiry on the basis of a complaint lodged by Hemanta Mahato, a local from Jhargram. The inquiry report suggested to close down the sponge iron factory for violation of environment norms.

Interestingly, D Chakraborty, Chief Scientist and Head Technical Cell of WBPCB allowed the factory to operate there and issued an order, which was passed on July 23, 2009. According to Choudhury, Chakraborty allowed the factory to run when the PCAA had issued an order to close down the factory. Advocate Kallol Bose, counsel of WBPCB said he will place all the report on the sponge iron factory before the Bench. The case will come up for hearing next week.