| File Note: |
<p style="text-align: justify;">The agenda note and report / recommendations of AEE/EE, RO, may kindly be perused.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The industry was granted ‘Consent to operate’ under the Water Act, 1974, valid upto 31.03.2025 and Air Act, 1981, valid upto 31.03.2024, to manufacture Kraft paper @ 400 TPD along with generation of trade effluent @ 300.0 KLD (100% Re-circulation back into process) by using 01 boiler of capacity 12 TPH (Bag filter followed by wet scrubber as APCD) & 01 boiler of capacity 03 TPH (Bag filter followed by wet scrubber as APCD) using rice husk / paddy straw as fuel in the boilers as fuel.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">A telephonic complaint was received from Dr. K.S. Aulakh, Former Vice – Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and from residents of village Gaunspur regarding black smoke emitted by the industry.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Accordingly, notice u/s 31-A of the Air Act, 1981 was issued to the industry with opportunity of personal hearing before Chairman of the Board on 20.12.2022, wherein, it was decided that:-</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Advisory be issued to the industry not to emit black smoke in future, if the industry was found emitting black smoke in future, then strict action including imposition of Environmental Compensation / closure of the industry will be taken against the industry, without any further notice/opportunity of hearing.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Environmental Engineer, Regional Office-3, Ludhiana shall keep strict vigil in the area and on the operation of the industry w.r.t. black smoke and shall send the report / recommendations, accordingly.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In compliance of decisions of hearing, advisory has been issued to the industry.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Now, the industry has applied for obtaining ‘Consent to Establish’/NOC expansion under the Water Act, 1974 & the Air Act, 1981 manufacture Kraft paper @ 400 TPD by using waste paper @ 450 Metric Tonnes/Day, rice/wheat straw @ 200 Metric Tonnes/Day, starch @ 20 Metric Tonnes/Day, sizing agent @ 50 Kgs/day & PAC/ALUM @300 Kgs/day. Details of the Case are as under:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->The industry had submitted detailed project report regarding usage of rice / wheat straw as raw material. The industry has made agreement with M/s Seshayee Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli for technical support to install machinery to use 20% paddy / wheat straw as raw material along with waste paper.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->The industry has proposed to install DE Pithing (Primary pith removal) à Multi Stage Washing (Secondary Pith Removal) à Digester (Ammonia & Potassium peroxide will be used as chemicals) à Hot Pulp Agitator as machinery for making pulp from paddy / wheat straw. This paddy/wheat straw pulp will be mixed with waste paper pulp and then high consistency pulp will be used as raw material for kraft paper manufacturing. The industry has submitted that it will use Ammonia, Potassium Hydroxide and Anthraquinone for pulp making from paddy/wheat straw and will not use caustic for pulp making and thus there will be no generation of black liquor in the process.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->The industry has proposed to install 01 new boiler of capacity 30 TPH. All kind of biomass like rice husk & rice straw has been proposed as fuel in the boiler. The industry has proposed to install electrostatic precipitator as APCD with new boiler which is adequate in principle.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->The industry has proposed to install one Turbine of capacity 05 MW for self-consumption of power only.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->5. <!--[endif]-->The industry has deposited Rs. 21,600/- vide UTR No. 793220732 dated 16.01.2023 as NOC fee, which is adequate for project cost of 10.00 Crores (Red Category).</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->6. <!--[endif]-->The industry has proposed expansion in its existing premises, thus there is no change in the land area of the industry. As per record file of the industry, the industry is located in the designated industrial zone as per approved Master Plan, Ludhiana (2007-21), as reported by the District Town Planner, Ludhiana vide his memo no. 871 dated 07.01.2015. Thus site of the industry is suitable for such type of expansion.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The industry was visited by AEE of RO on 23.01.2023 and it was observed as under:-</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->The industry was in operation for production of kraft paper.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->The installation process of turbine and boiler of capacity 30 TPH was under process.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->The process of the industry is based on 100% recirculation of back water. The industry has installed collection tank, equalization tank, Sedicell-1, Storage tank-1, Sedicell-2, Storage tank-2 and Spray filter for treatment of back water. The fresh water used as make up water is mainly used at high pressure showers of paper machine, boiler section, washing of spray filter.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->The industry has installed sludge filter press for drying of sludge and dry sludge is sold to hard board manufacturing industries and the industry is maintaining record of the same.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->5. <!--[endif]-->No traces of waste water were found discharged outside the premises of the industry/within the premises of the industry.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->6. <!--[endif]-->The industry had installed 01 boiler of capacity 12 TPD based on rice husk and paddy straw. During visit, boiler of capacity 12 TPD was in operation and only paddy straw was used as fuel. The industry has provided bag filter followed by wet scrubber as APCD with boiler of capacity 12 TPD. No black smoke emitted from the chimney of the industry. The industry never found emitting black smoke in last four months during tour to the Humbran-Gaunspur area.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->7. <!--[endif]-->During visit, air emission samples were collected from the port hole on stack after APCD provided with boiler of capacity 12 TPD on 15.01.2022 and as per analysis report, the concentration of SPM is found 319 mg/NM3, which is within the prescribed limits of the Board.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->8. <!--[endif]-->2nd boiler of capacity 03 TPH has been removed from production line and the industry has put up it for sale.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->9. <!--[endif]-->The industry is collecting its fuel ash generated from its boiler section in land adjacent to its premises has now provided boundary wall along fuel ash storage area. The industry has provided proper wetting system to prevent its wind blowing. Fuel ash is lifted by sub-contractors of Delhi-Katra Expressway.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">It is pertinent to mention here that the industry is only kraft paper manufacturing unit and as per EIA notification 2006,</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">"Category 5(i) paper manufacturing from waste paper and manufacture of paper from ready pulp without bleaching is exempted from Environmental Clearance under EIA Notification, 2006."</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> The process of paper manufacturing (writing and printing paper) from agro residue (Wheat/ paddy straw) requires EIA Environmental Clearance. But it is not clear regarding kraft paper.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In present case, the industry has applied for manufacturing its kraft paper from wheat / paddy straw and is not using bleaching process in manufacturing kraft paper. Thus, clarification is required from SEIAA regarding applicability of Environmental Clearance on kraft paper manufacturing under Category 5(i) of EIA Notification, 2006. The</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Thus, the industry is complying with the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and has proposed adequate measures to control water and air pollution to be generated from its expansion project.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">As the industry is using paddy straw / wheat straw to manufacture kraft paper with bleaching. The paddy straw management at present is a biggest problem for Punjab and State Govt. as well as Centre Govt. is so much concerned about the paddy straw management to reduce the pollution from paddy straw burning. These kind of projects be promoted and the Board shall encourage these type of industries and help the industry in obtaining the statutory permissions.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Keeping in view of the above, it recommended as under:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->A) <!--[endif]-->‘Consent to Establish’/ NOC expansion under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 may be granted to the industry for one year for manufacturing of Kraft paper @ 400 TPD by using waste paper @ 450 Metric Tonnes/Day, rice/wheat straw @ 200 Metric Tonnes/Day, starch @ 20 Metric Tonnes/Day, sizing agent @ 50 Kgs/day & PAC/ALUM @ 300 Kgs/day subject to suitable conditions along with following special conditions:</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->This NOC is granted subject to the condition that the industry shall obtain Environmental Clearance as per EIA Notification, 2006.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->The industry shall not use any bleaching process in its wheat / paddy straw pulping section and shall not generate any kind of black liquor / any other trade effluent from the process.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->The industry shall strictly operate on ZLD and shall obtain revised ZLD certificate from CPPRI, Saharanpur after successful commissioning of the trail project. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->The industry shall not be liable to claim for any loss incurred for the investment made in the project on the basis of this NOC in case the Environmental Clearance is not granted to it.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><!-- [if !supportLists]-->B) <!--[endif]-->The Board shall also clarify from SEIAA regarding applicability of the Environmental Clearance on kraft paper manufacturing units using waste paper & paddy / wheat straw (without bleach) as raw material.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Competency : Hon'ble Chairman of the Board</p> |
