(Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) At the request of the learned Government Pleader, the memo of parties be corrected to the extent that the second respondent should be reflected as the Principal Secretary, Environment and Forest Department of the State Government.
2. The learned counsel for the petitioner points out that under the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan, the Indian Coast Guard is responsible for maintaining and implementing the contingency plan.
3. On hearing learned counsel for parties, it transpires that the apprehension of the petitioner is that on a principle of polluter pay, if the Iranian Ship crosses the territorial waters, the Government may not be able to recover anything. This, of course, in no manner absolves the Government of the responsibility to take necessary steps to remove the pollutant, for which the National Green Tribunal, Chennai Bench, is already stated to have been approached.
4. We are of the view that no direction can be issued in the matter, except to observe that the State Government may look into the issue urgently to take such steps as deemed proper in the given situation, especially keeping in mind that as per the petitioner there have been some recent developments in terms of registration of FIR and some action post filing of the petition.
The petition, accordingly, stands disposed of. No costs. Consequently, W.M.P.No.2618 of 2017 are closed.