NGT takes up complaint against Morepen plant in Kasauli, seeks reply
New Delhi/Shimla, June 3,
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to respondents, including pharmaceutical company Morepen Laboratories Limited, on a petition alleging environmental norm violations at its manufacturing facility in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh.
Hearing Original Application No. 334/2026, a Principal Bench of the NGT comprising Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr. Afroz Ahmad took cognisance of allegations made by applicant Lekh Singh regarding the operations of Morepen Laboratories’ unit at Village Tiron in Kasauli tehsil.
According to the application, the pharmaceutical manufacturing facility is allegedly operating in violation of environmental norms. The petitioner, who claims to reside in close proximity to the unit, has alleged that generator sets and industrial machinery at the plant are causing noise pollution beyond permissible limits. The applicant has relied on a noise monitoring report to support the claim.
The petition further alleges that the company is discharging industrial effluents beyond prescribed standards, resulting in environmental pollution. Reference has been made to a separate report in support of the allegation.
Another allegation raised before the Tribunal concerns the purported unauthorised diversion of irrigation water for industrial use by the respondents.
During the proceedings, counsel for the applicant informed the Tribunal that an earlier civil suit seeking an injunction against the company had been filed before the Civil Judge at Kasauli in Solan district. However, the suit was held to be not maintainable on the ground that the appropriate remedy lay before the National Green Tribunal.
The Tribunal issued notice to the respondents and recorded that senior advocate Rajdipa Behura accepted notice on behalf of respondent No. 1, Morepen Laboratories Limited. The applicant has been directed to provide copies of the original application and supporting documents to the company’s counsel within three days.
The NGT has granted respondent No. 1 four weeks to file its reply and directed the applicant to serve notices on the remaining respondents and file an affidavit of service at least one week before the next hearing.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 10, 2026. The Tribunal has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the allegations at this stage and has only sought responses from the respondents.
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