Show ApplicationProcessingDetails

Id:

21336288

Approve:

false

Approve Note:

Clarification:

false

Clarification Note:

Date Created:

2023-03-06 10:17:18.63

File Note:

Subject:    Proceedings of the personal hearing given to the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Bathinda & M/s JITF Urban Waste Management (Bathinda) Limited, Mansa Road, Near ITI Chowk, Bathinda before refusal of renewal of consents to operate under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981 by the Chairman on 28.02.2023. The following were present: From Board's side: Er. G.S. Majithia, Member Secretary Er. Pardeep Gupta, CEE (B) Er. Rakesh Kumar, SEE, ZO, Bathinda From industry side: Sh. Nandan Bansal, SDO, MC Sh. Narinder Singh, AGM, JITF                      It was brought out that M/s JITF Urban Waste Management (Bathinda) Ltd. has developed Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Treatment Processing at Mansa Road, Bathinda in an area of 20 acre for processing of municipal solid waste @ 350 TPD for the manufacture of RDF @ 170 TPD, Compost @ 32 TPD, Inert Material @ 67 TPD and Recyclables @ 3 TPD.                    The facility was commissioned in June 2015. Presently, the facility is processing the solid waste generated from Bathinda.                  SEIAA granted environment clearance under the EIA Notification 2006 on 30.8.2012 to the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda.                    An application vide OA No. 413 of 2021 was filed before the Hon'ble National Green Tribunal by applicant Bikramjit Singh Shergill regarding a fire incident on 06.06.2021 at M/S JITF waste plant, Bhatinda, Punjab, wherein it was submitted that the fire erupted from the large quantity of inflammable material lying in the open space at dumpsite which shows that M/S JITF is not processing the city waste as per agreement. Earlier also the fire incidents have been reported from this dumpsite but no action has been taken.                    The Hon'ble Tribunal formed a Joint Committee vide its order dated 02.02.2022 of CPCB, SPCB, MCB & District Magistrate, Bathinda to look into the grievances of the applicant and to submit the factual and action taken report in the matter. The report of the Joint Committee was e-mailed to the Hon'ble Commission on 24.08.2022.                    The Hon'ble Tribunal vide its order dated 17.11.2022 has sought reply/response on behalf of Municipal Corporation, Bathinda and JITF Urban Waste Management (Bathinda) Ltd. and the matter is further listed for further consideration on 06.03.2023.                    The facility/MCB was earlier granted consent to operate under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981 on 25.07.2022 with validity up to 31.12.2022 for processing of Municipal Solid Waste @ 350 TPD (full capacity) to manufacture compost, RDF and inert, with following special conditions:- 1.  The operator of the facility and Municipal Corporation authorities shall separately install 2 Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations each, within two months. 2.  The MCB/Facility shall give details of measures taken by it to control fire incidents, within one month and shall make all-out efforts that no such incident shall occur in future. 3. The MCB/Facility shall upgrade Risk Management and Disaster Management plan, within one month. 4.  The MCB/Facility shall develop the site as SLF for disposal of inert material, within 2 months. 5.  The Municipal Corporation, Bathinda shall speed-up the processing of legacy waste and submits progress in this regard to the Board on monthly basis. 6.  The operator of the facility shall ensure that no odour is felt in the vicinity due to its operations as well as storage of solid waste at site. 7. The facility shall also develop the vermicomposting/composting to manage the biodegradable solid waste. PP shall not throw, burn or bury any solid wastes in open, outside premises or in drain / water bodies. 8.  The facility shall promote use of alternatives of single use plastics (SUP) and awareness to discourage use of plastic, through their Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER) activities. (See attached banner) 9.  The facility shall ensure that there are no usages of single use plastic-thermocol disposable items such as water bottles / water pouches/water cups, plates, forks, spoons, straw etc. and single use decorating material made of plastic-thermocol or any other non-biodegradable material in the premises. 10. The facility shall properly handle and manage the solid wastages as per the provisions of the Municipal Solid Waste Rules 2016 and ensure that the solid waste is segregated & disposed of in an environmentally sound manner.                    The facility has applied for extension in the validity of consent to operate of the Board under the provisions of Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981.             Regular complaints are received regarding the foul smell emitted from the facility due to its operation in the vicinity.                    The facility was visited by the officer of the Board on 13.12.2022 and it was observed that: - 1.    The facility was not in operation. 2.    Most of the spray nozzles provided to spray Ecolo Herbal solution for odour mitigation were not in working condition. 3.    The facility has failed to install 2 no. ambient air quality monitoring stations. 4.    The MCB/Facility has yet not developed the secured land fill (SLF) site for disposal of inert material. 5.    The processing of the legacy waste is in progress, however at a very slow pace and no progress report w.r.t. same is being submitted with the Board by MCB. 6.    The facility is discharging its leachate without any treatment into the STP installed by MC, Bathinda. The effluent sample of the leachate was collected by the officer of the Board on 10.12.2019 and as per the analysis report, the concentration of various parameters were found beyond the permissible limits prescribed for discharge into the sewer/STP.                      In view of above, the facility/MCB have been issued show cause notice before refusal of consents to operate under the Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981 with an opportunity of personal hearing on 28.02.2023.      During hearing- 1. Sh. Nandan Bansal, SDO, Municipal Corporation, Bathinda stated that the solid waste of the city is being processed by the facility namely M/s JITF at present which is entirely responsible for its day to day activities as per the contract executed between Municipal Corporation, Bathinda & the facility. He further stated that the Corporation is in the process to execute an agreement with another facility for processing the legacy solid waste at Mansa Road, Bathinda. 2. Sh. Narinder Singh, AGM, JITF submitted written reply w.r.t. notice issued to the facility which has been taken on record. He further stated that during the visit of the officer of the Board, the facility was under daily routine of cleaning and maintenance and as such the nozzles were not in operation at that specific time. He further stated the installation of ambient air quality monitoring stations (AAQMS) was a joint obligation of MC, Bathinda and M/s JITF, however the MC, Bathinda has denied its responsibility in the matter and is solely responsible for delay in installation of AAQMS. Presently, the inert material is being disposed off in the MSW pit on the land located at Mansa Road, Bathinda as per the instructions of MC, Bathinda as the Corporation has failed to provide of vacant and unencumbered land at village Mandi Khurd which was earmarked for development of a SLF site. The pipeline has been provided to discharge the effluent from the leachate tanks to the adjoining STP of 52 MLD capacity in compliance to the decisions of the Board. During hearing, it was observed by the Chairman of the Board that the representatives of the facility and Municipal Corporation are throwing responsibility on each other for non-compliance of conditions imposed in the previous consents granted under the Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981. Also, no satisfactory reply submitted by the facility with regard to regular complaints received regarding the foul smell being emitted from the solid waste processing facility & non-installation of ambient air quality monitoring stations. Moreover, the officer represented by Municipal Corporation, Bathinda failed to submit any written reply w.r.t. show cause notice issued as well as failed to submit details of legacy waste managed till date.                         After hearing the representatives of JITF and officers of MC & Board as well as considering material facts on file, the Chairman of the Board has decided that:- 1.      The consent applications applied by the facility under the Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981 be returned as the consents are to be obtained by the Custodian i.e. Municipal Corporation, Bathinda. 2.      The Municipal Corporation, Bathinda shall ensure to attend all the observations pointed out by the Board and shall apply for obtaining consents to operate under the Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981, within 15 days. 3.      Notice u/s 33-A of the Water Act, 1974 & u/s 31-A of the Air Act, 1981 be issued to the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda with the proposed directions to initiate legal action against the concerned authorities and to impose Environmental Compensation (EC) for violation of the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981. 4.      Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Bathinda shall visit the facility, process the consent application to be applied under Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981 by MC, Bathinda on merit. 5.      During hearing, it was made clear to the officer of the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda that in case of failure to comply with the decisions of the hearing and in case of any violation(s) in future, further action as deemed fit shall be initiated under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974, Air Act, 1981 & MSW Rules, 2016, without any further notice/opportunity.                    Submitted for confirmation of proceedings of the hearing dated 28.02.2023 please.

Inspection:

false

Inspection Note:

Officer:

PPCB075

Reject:

false

Reject Note:

Role:

ZO EE Ruby Sidhu