Show ApplicationProcessingDetails

Id:

20740894

Approve:

false

Approve Note:

Clarification:

false

Clarification Note:

Date Created:

2022-12-27 13:38:17.846

File Note:

History of the case ·         Earlier a complaint was received from Sh. Amandeep Singh, H.No. 4032, St. No. 7, Daba Road, Shimlapuri, Ludhianaagainst the industry regarding noise pollution caused by it. To verify facts of the complaint, the site of the industry was visited by AEE of this office on 13.10.2021 and it was observed as under:- 1.                   The industry was in operation and engaged in manufacturing of Bolts of size 6mm, 8mm, 10mm & 12mm. 2.                   The industry has installed 03 nos. Headers(of capacity 3 soot 4 inch, 2.5 soot 2 inch & 2 soot 2 inch), 03 nos. trimming machines & 04 nos. Roll Thread machines. During visit only 01 no. Header (of capacity 3 soot 4 inch) was in operation and Sh. Jagbhajan Singh, representative of the industry informed that only 01 header is being operated at a time as per raw material available. 3.                   The noise monitoring of the industry was carried out from complainant’s house (i.e. H.No. 4032) in the presence of Sh. Amandeep Singh, complainant and Sh. Jagbhajan Singh, representative of the industry. 4.                   After noise monitoring, the noise level in the house of complainant was observed 77.4 dB(A), 75.6 dB(A) & 78.9 dB(A) (average value 77.3 dB(A), when the header was in operation and the noise level was observed as 69.2 dB(A), 71.0 dB(A) & 69.1 dB(A) (average value 69.8 dB(A), when the header was not in operation. 5.                   As per approved Master Plan of Ludhiana, available at website of GLADA, the area falls in residential zone. 6.                   The above results show that the noise level in the house of complainant is already above prescribed standards of 55 dB(A) for residential area. However, the noise level further increases from 69.8 dB(A) to 77.3 dB(A), with the operation of only 1 no. header was in operation. 7.                   The industry had not obtained NOC/Consents of the Board. 8.                   The representative of the industry informed that the industry is being running at current site since year 1991. ·         Above report was sent to Zonal Office-1, Ludhiana with recommendations to initiate action against the industry under the provisions of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. ·         Accordingly, show cause notice was issued to the industry vide Zonal Office letter no. 115 dated 06.01.2022. The industry vide its letter dated 02.02.2022 had submitted reply to show cause notice that it will try to reduce the noise pollution by making a sound  proof area, for which the industry had requested time of 4-5 months. Further, the industry had requested to again visit its site after 05 months to carry out noise monitoring. The industry had also applied for consent to operate under the Air Act, 1981 on 05.04.2022. The industry was raised clarification and requested to deposit adequate consent fee with penalty. But the industry failed to give any satisfactory reply, as such, the application of the industry was returned. While applying for consent to operate under the Air Act, 1981, the industry had submitted report of noise monitoring of its unit carried out by M/s SIMA Lab Pvt Ltd, Haridwar on 30.03.2022. But, the report of noise monitoring carried out by M/s SIMA Lab Pvt Ltd., Haridwar seems fabricated. ·         The report in this regard was sent to Zonal Office-1, Ludhiana vide this office letter no. 275 dated 25.04.2022 with recommendations to take action against the industry u/s 31-A of the Air Act, 1981 and to issue show cause to M/s SIMA Lab Pvt Ltd, Haridwar. ·         Thereafter, the Zonal Office-1, Ludhiana vide letter no. 1987 dated  19.05.2022 had asked this office to again carry out noise monitoring of the industry. In compliance to the decision of the competent authority, the industry was visited by AEE of this office on 26.05.2022 and it was observed as under:- 1.                   The industry was in operation and engaged in manufacturing of Bolts of size 6mm, 8mm, 10mm & 12mm. 2.                   The industry has installed 03 nos. Headers (of capacity 3 soot 4 inch, 2.5 soot 2 inch & 2 soot 2 inch), 03 nos. trimming machines & 04 nos. Roll Thread machines. During visit only 01 no. Header (of capacity 2.5 soot 2 inch) was in operation and Sh. Jagbhajan Singh, representative of the industry informed that other machines were not being due to unavailability of raw material available. 3.                   The industry has provided plyboard and foam at main gate and walls of the industry to control noise. 4.                   The noise monitoring of the industry was carried out from complainant’s house (i.e. H.No. 4032) and near main gate of the industry in the presence of Sh. Amardeep Singh, complainant and Sh. Jagbhajan Singh, representative of the industry. During noise monitoring, the gate of the industry was closed. 5.                   The noise levels were observed as below: When the header was in operation In house of complainant – 62.5 dB(A), 63.6 dB(A) & 63.6 dB(A), average value 63.2 dB(A) Near main gate of the industry – 73.4 dB(A), 73.3 dB(A) & 72.6dB(A), average value 73.1 dB(A). When the header was not in operation In house of complainant – 51.0 dB(A), 54.5 dB(A) & 54.5 dB(A), average value 53.3 dB(A) Near main gate of the industry – 61.2 dB(A), 61.9 dB(A) & 62.5 dB(A), average value 61.9 dB(A). 6.                   The above results show that the noise level in the house of complainant is within prescribed standards of 55 dB(A) for residential area. However, the noise level increases from 53.3 dB(A) to 63.2 dB(A) in complainant’s house and from 61.9 dB(A) to 73.1 dB(A) near main gate of the industry, with operation of only 1 no. header. 9.                   As per documentary proof submitted by the industry, the industry is running at current site from year 1991. The industry has also submitted copy of letter bearing no. 78/Drg-c/PPCB/D dated 01.04.2022, in which it has been informed that the unit may be allowed to operate upto August, 2023, subject to conditions mentioned therein. 10.               As per approved Master Plan of Ludhiana, available at website of GLADA, the area falls in residential zone and the industry is not achieving the noise level standards ·         Thereafter, the industry was issued show cause notice for violation of the provisions under Air Act 1981 with hearing before Senior Environmental Engineer, Zonal Office-I, Ludhiana on 01.08.2022.   ·         Sh. Jagbhajan Singh, Proprietor of the industry attended the hearing & submitted the written reply which was taken on record. He submitted that the industry that the industry has provided ply & foam on walls to control noise level. The noise was monitored by the officers of the Board. The noise monitoring done on non-operational of machinery i.e. about 55 db(A) & on operation of the machinery, the noise level with in 10dbA) tolerance. The industry falls in Municipal limits according to Master Plan and MC Ludhiana allows to operate till August 2023. All the industries in the area are running accordingly. The industry has no source of water inside the industry and the unit is in operation since last more than 30 years. He assured to control noise levels from the machinery installed by the industry and requested time period of 1.5 month to provide arrangements to control the noise pollution generated from the machinery and to apply for consents of the Board. After hearing the industry, officer of the Board and considering background of the case and material facts on the record, the Senior Environmental Engineer of the Board decided that:- 1.         The industry shall take preventive measures to control the noise pollution generated from the machinery installed by it, within 01 month. 2.         Environmental Engineer, Regional Office-2, Ludhiana shall visit the industry after 01 month to carry out fresh noise monitoring and submit the report alongwith recommendations in the matter.                 The industry has not submitted the compliance report of decision of the personal hearing dated 01.08.2022 regarding preventive measures taken to control the noise pollution. ·         The industry is in operation without obtaining ‘consent to operate’ of the Board and the complainant is repeatedly filing the complaint against the industry and has recently filed fresh complaint dated 22.09.2022 regarding noise pollution. He has requested not to give any further opportunity to the industry being run without obtaining ‘consent to operate’ of the Board and to close the industry immediately. ·         There was long pending complaint against the industry since year 2020 and many visits have been carried out by the Board. ·         Accordingly the case was considered by the Competent Authority of the Board and directions  u/ 31-A of Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide no. 5226-27 dated 24.11.2022 were issued against the industry for its closure and PSPCL Authorities may be directed to disconnect electric supply of the industry.                   Accordingly, the connection of the industry was disconnected by PSPCL vide TDCO no. 82667/088 dated 13.12.2022.                 Now, the industry has applied  for consent to operate under Air Act, 1981 under green category with the written request stating that “it is submitted that the industry has provided ply and foam at all walls and gate as preventive measures to reduce the Noise level.  The industry planned to shift unit by purchasing the industry plot. It will take 7-8 months to shifts. The industry has already submitted VAT/sale tax/GST & electric connection copies.” The industry was  visited by the AEE of this office on 27.12.2022 and it was observed that :- 1.       The industry was not in operation due to disconnection of electric supply. 2.       The industry has installed 03 nos. Headers (of capacity 3 soot 4 inch, 2.5 soot 2 inch & 2 soot 2 inch), 03 nos. trimming machines & 04 nos. Roll Thread machines. 3.       The industry has provided plyboard alongwith foam at all the walls particularly along the wall adjoining to the complainant house to control the noise. 4.       The industry has also provided an enclosed cabin (wooden) at the main gate to contain the noise levels of the industry (photo graphs enclosed)   5.       The industry has also submitted copy of letter bearing no. 78/Drg-c/PPCB/D dated 01.04.2022 from Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana in which it has been mentioned  that the unit may be allowed to operate upto August, 2023, subject to conditions mentioned therein.         In view of above, it is recommended that the request of the industry for restoration of electric supply may be considered and 1.       Consent to operate to operate under Air Act, 1981 may be granted for three months with special conditions that :-            I.            The industry shall ensure that the noise levels are within the prescribed standards at all times.          II.            The industry shall not operate its machinery in night time i.e. after 8.00 pm.        III.            The industry shall get noise monitoring done from the Board within 7 days.   2.       Electric connection may be restored temporarily for three months.

Inspection:

false

Inspection Note:

Officer:

PPCB129

Reject:

false

Reject Note:

Role:

RO AEE Atul Kaushal