| File Note: |
<p>Detailed note attached.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">It is submitted that the subject cited industry was granted consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide no. R14SASCTOW1031846 dated 21/03/2014 and under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide no. R14SASCTOA1032081 dated 21/03/2014, both having validity extended upto 30/06/2019, for Crushing of River Bed material @ 2200 CFT/day to manufacture aggregates of different sizes, subject to certain conditions as mentioned therein.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">The industry was granted auto renewal of consent to operate under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Renewal/SAS/2019/10647066 dated 01.08.2019 which is valid upto 30.06.2024 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide no. CTOA/Renewal/SAS/2019/10647033 dated 01.08.2019 which is valid upto 30.06.2024 subject to certain terms and conditions mentioned therein.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Thereafter, the industry applied for fresh consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & renewal of consent to operate under Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 through OCMMS regarding change in name of proprietor / partner and same was processed through OCMMS.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">The industry had submitted covering letter in which mentioned that they are only applied for change of proprietor due to death of old proprietor.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">It is pertinent to mention here that earlier the Head Office, Punjab Pollution Control Board vide its letter no. 16537-44 dated 23.07.2021 had passed instructions to the Regional Offices of Punjab Pollution Control Board regarding regulation of the source of mining material for stone crushers in the State of Punjab in light of the D.O letter dated 18.06.2021 from Secretary, Water Resources, Department and Directors Mines and Geology, Chandigarh wherein it has been intimated that the matter was considered by the Competent Authority in the Board and it has been decided to issue following instructions to the field officers/ offices of the Board while processing the CTE/CTO applications of stone crushers/ screening / washing units:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">1.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Verify the quantity of mining material assigned / allotted to the various stone crushers by the Department of Mines & Geology.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">2.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Obtain carrying capacity certificate of the area/ stone crusher from Deptt. Of Mines & Geology, Department of Water Resources and act on the basis of such certificates.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">3.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Accordingly, modify the conditions of consent by issuing notice u/s 27 (2) of Water Act, 1974 and section 21 (6) of Air Act, 1981 and shall mentioned the quantity of mining material in the consent certificate.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">4.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Impose additional condition to the effect that the stone crushers shall maintain a stock register to justify the legitimate source of mining material, its availability, usage and sale etc. shall also be imposed in the consent certificate.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">5.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">No new stone crusher shall be given consent without obtaining credible & effective data for carrying capacity of area, so as to ensure that raw material is not sourced by illegal mining.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';"> Further, Water Resources Department, Government of Punjab vide notification no. PMMR/DMG/2487 dated 22.06.2021 regarding amendments in Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013 and Policy Guidelines for registration and working of Stone Crushers in State of Punjab, 2015’s point no. 4 in rule 74 (A) at the end of existing provisions, the following shall be added, namely:-</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">“The stone crusher / owners shall register stone crusher unit through online portal mode of the department. The fees of registration / renewal fees shall be paid online through department portal mode. The stone crushers / owners shall be accountable for sources of minerals for crushing and shall satisfy the concerned Mining Officer while producing the details of source in monthly return in Form-C of Policy Guidelines dated 19<sup>th</sup> March 2015 or GST paid bills or through transit pass issued.”</span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">From the above amendment, Water Resources Department, Government of Punjab has made the stone crusher / owners accountable for sources of minerals for crushing and shall satisfy the concerned Mining Officer while producing the details of source in monthly return in Form-C of Policy Guidelines dated 19th March 2015 or GST paid bills or through transit pass issued.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Further, no specific material quantity of mining material assigned / allotted to the various stone crushers by the Department of Mines & Geology is being issued as per information available with this office. However, the above stone crushers/ screening plants located in Mubarikpur belt also obtains/procure the raw material from the neighboring State i.e Haryana as well.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span class="txt"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">It is submitted that earlier the application of M/s Shree Ganesh Stone Crusher, Mubarikpur was processed on merits in light of the latest notification of the Board. It was requested that Legal Opinion shall be obtained from SLO of the Board, as to whether the application could be processed from pollution angle in light of the above D.O letters issued by Department of Mines & Geology. However, Environmental Engineer, Zonal Office-I, Patiala considered the above facts submitted through OCMMS and requested to visit the site to verify the code of practice and to verify the industry has install a machinery for screening cum washing plant and to monitor the ambient air and to verify the instructions issued vide Head Office letter no. 16537-44 dated 23.07.2021. Further, the competency to decide the application lies with E.E, RO. Moreover, the matter was also telephonically discussed with Senior Environmental Engineer, Zonal Office-I, Patiala in the presence of AEE-1 and AEE-4 and it was apprised about the instructions passed by Head Office, Punjab Pollution Control Board vide its letter no. 16537-44 dated 23.07.2021 to the Regional Offices of Punjab Pollution Control Board regarding regulation of the source of mining material for stone crushers in the State of Punjab in light of the D.O letter dated 18.06.2021 from Secretary, Water Resources, Department and Directors Mines and Geology, Chandigarh. Further, Water Resources Department, Government of Punjab vide notification no. PMMR/DMG/2487 dated 22.06.2021 regarding amendments in Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013 and Policy Guidelines for registration and working of Stone Crushers in State of Punjab, 2015’s point no. 4 in rule 74 (A) at the end of existing provisions, the following shall be added, namely:- “The stone crusher / owners shall register stone crusher unit through online portal mode of the department. The fees of registration / renewal fees shall be paid online through department portal mode. The stone crushers / owners shall be accountable for sources of minerals for crushing and shall satisfy the concerned Mining Officer while producing the details of source in monthly return in Form-C of Policy Guidelines dated 19th March 2015 or GST paid bills or through transit pass issued.” From the above amendment, Water Resources Department, Government of Punjab has made the stone crusher / owners accountable for sources of minerals for crushing and shall satisfy the concerned Mining Officer while producing the details of source in monthly return in Form-C of Policy Guidelines dated 19th March 2015 or GST paid bills or through transit pass issued. He suggested / directed to process / grant the consent to the stone crushers from pollution angle and it is clear that Mining Officer has to verify their monthly returns being submitted by the said stone crushers / screening plants. Accordingly, M/s Shree Ganesh Stone Crusher was granted consent for one year from pollution angle.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">The industry has submitted a letter issued by Mining Officer, SAS Nagar vide memo no. 852 dated 10.03.2022 in which it is mentioned that the registration of the stone crusher has been extended upto 02.01.2023 subject to suitable terms and conditions mentioned therein. The above unit was visited to verify the latest status and observed as under:-</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">1.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">The above unit was not in operation during the visit. The representative informed that the unit is not in operation due to shortage of raw material.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">2.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">The unit has provided fresh plantation along the boundary.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">3.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">The unit has stabilized its roads with River Bed Material.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">4.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">The unit has provided chutes at the end of conveyor belts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">5.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">The unit carries out sprinkling of water within its premises</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Thereafter, the industry was granted consent to operate under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Fresh/SAS/2022/18120890 dated 24.03.2022 which is valid upto 30.06.2024 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide no. CTOA/Renewal/SAS/2022/18120997 dated 24.03.2022 which is valid upto 30.06.2022 for Crushing of river bed material @2200CFT/day subject to certain terms and conditions mentioned therein</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Now, the industry has applied for obtaining varied consent to operate under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for Crushing of river bed material @4800CFT/day alongwith requisite documents which may kindly be perused.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">The industry had earlier deposited consent fee Rs.19,560/- (Rs. 9180/- under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Rs. 700/- as NOC fees and Rs.500/- as application form fees) vide R. no. 5/4862 dated 17/07/2019, which is adequate upto 30.06.2024 under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, as per the revised fee structure dated 29.10.2018. As per CA certificate, there is no increase in assets.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">The industry has submitted compliance report of the previous granted consent to operate under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">The industry has submitted feasibility report regarding increase of production capacity from 2200 CFT/day to 4800 CFT/day by using the full efficiency of our plant & Machinery and operating plant round the clock @ 24 Hours/Day basis with the existing plant & machinery/without adding any new machinery at the same site / land.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">It is appropriate to mention here that a letter address to the Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Patiala has been written by Department of Water Resources (Mines & Geology), Punjab vide no. 521/ Mining/E-371585 dated 21.10.2022 submitted by the proprietor regarding legal source of raw material in which mentioned that:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">“Please refer to the subject cited above and letter mentioned under reference, vide which you were requested that before issuing “Consent to Establish/Consent to Operate” to the crushers, the information regarding its legal source of raw material must be taken fram concerned Mining Officers of Department of Water Resources.</span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">It is hereby intimated that the Government of Punjab vide notification no. 5217/crusher Policy Dated16.08.2022 has implemented new Crusher Policy 2022 i.e., Punjab Crusher Policy 2022.Vide the above mentioned crusher policy, new regulations pertaining to operations of crushers in the state have been introduced which are mentioned as below:</span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">a)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">The crusher owners shall file monthly returns with in a period of 2 months, so that same may be reviewed by the department on monthly basis.</span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">b)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Weighbridges shall be installed in the premises of stone crusher and the weighment slip for processed material shall be issued in Form ‘Q’, this will keep the account of input and output of material used and processed by the crusher.</span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">c)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Further, to emit the scope of any illegal stocking of material, all the suppliers and dealers in the state shall be registered on the online portal of department.</span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">It has come to the notice of the Department that the crushers in the state are procuring raw material from different sources. Hence, limiting crusher owners to define the source of raw material would create un-necessary hurdles and paper work.</span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Moreover, the source of material cannot be fixed for any crusher as they are free to source legal material at best competitive rates and the source of materials may change accordingly.</span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">In view of the above, it is hereby submitted that, vide new crusher policy the department has introduced numerous regulations that have reduced the scope of any kind of illegal activity and source of material is already being verified through returns being filed by the crush owners. And, in case any misleading information is provided by any crusher owner, action would be taken by the department as per rules.</span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Therefore, asking crusher owners to submit the information pertaining to “Legal Source of Raw Material” would be beduplicity of efforts.</span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">So, you are requested to issue the necessary instruction to officer sunder your office in this regard.”</span></em></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">It is appropriate to mention here that Govt. of Punjab has framed specific siting guidelines as well as code of practice vide notification dated 17.03.1998 & 01.02.2006, 02.03.2012 & 30.07.2013. The industry might not be complying with all the siting criteria as on date. However, the industry is complying with latest amendment i.e. established at more than 50 meters from the River / Choe made in reference to CWP No. 21899 of 2012 titled as Surmukh Singh Vs State of Punjab & Ors.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">Further, as per circular no. CEE (HQ)/F.No./957/2016/59 dated 02/02/2016,<span style="color: red;"> </span>the case for renewal of NOC/Consent to operate for Orange & Green category industries is to be processed based on self-certification submitted by the industry to the effect that it is complying with the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, as such, the Brick kiln unit covers under orange category.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, 'sans-serif';">In view of the above, it is recommended that Legal Opinion shall be obtained from SLO of the Board, as to whether the consent for enhanced capacity could be granted keeping in view of the above mentioned facts being a policy matter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 1in; line-height: 24px;"> </p> |
