SARF 8212; up in smoke

Accordingly, they filed a public Interest litigation in order to ban the act as it affected their health. They succeeded in the court of law. The battle to safeguard the health of residents from smoke emanating from the dumping ground got over in the year 1997.

quot;Even today our people take rounds of the area to check whether garbage is being burnt or not,quot; says Dr Sandip Rane of SARF. quot;We act like bodyguards of the dumping ground,quot; he adds. But the smoke from the dumping ground is not the only health hazard that bothersthese bodyguards. A few months ago, SARF filed another PIL in the High Court against the polluting vehicles on the streets of Mumbai. quot;The problem of increasing vehicular pollution was on our mind for the last two years. We wanted to do something about it. Thus we filed a PIL,quot; informs Dr Rane. SARF has rolled up its sleeves for this battle also.

SARF, comprising a bunch of busy professionals, has vowed to free Mumbai from this affliction. Not an easy job, Rane believes that each individual should come forward to help in the matter. As an example, despite their busy schedules, the members attend the courts8217; proceedings. quot;Cosmetic PUCs were not yielding vehicular pollution. EURO norms was one way out,quot; says Dr Rane. To approach the problem in a phased manner, the PIL filed by SARF not only targets at four wheelers but also at two and three-wheelers.

quot;Only when each individual, who owns a vehicle, feels concerned, we will succeed.quot; SARF plans to take up industrial pollution soon.8212; YOGESH SADHWANI