Show ApplicationProcessingDetails

Id:

24549368

Approve:

false

Approve Note:

Clarification:

false

Clarification Note:

Date Created:

2023-12-27 12:02:59.045

File Note:

Subject:               Proceedings of the personal hearing given by the Chief Environmental Engineer (B) of the Board for refusal of renewal of consents to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 to M/s Bajrang Steel Rolling Mills, Vill. Sounti, Amloh Road, Mandi Gobindgarh on 06/12/2023.   The following were present:   From the Board:   Er. Lavneet Dubey, SEE, ZO-II, Patiala Er. Navtesh Singla, EE, ZO-I, Patiala   From the industry: Sh. Harmesh Chand, Parter                                   Environmental Engineer, Zonal Office-II, Patiala brought that the Hon'ble National Green Tribunal vide order dated 1.10.2020 passed in O.A No. 924 of 2019 had issued the directions to the State Pollution Control Board to ensure that if shifting to cleaner fuel does not take place, the non-compliant units be closed till compliance and this should not only apply to rolling mills, but also to other similarly placed industries operating on coal. In case of non-compliance, the State Pollution Control Board has been directed to take coercive measures including closure, recovery of compensation and initiating prosecution.                                 A meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Punjab with the representatives of rolling mills operating in Mandi Gobindgarh Area on 30/12/2022 regarding their conversion of fuel from Coal/ Furnace Oil to PNG, it was unanimously decided that the rolling mills operating in Mandi Gobindgarh area may be granted relaxation for some time for converting from their conventional fuels to cleaner fuels and the Competent Authority of the Board may consider/ decide regarding extending the validity of the Consents to Operate till finalization of State Fuel Policy or 31/12/2023, whichever is earlier subject to suitable conditions.                                 A meeting was also held on 09/01/2023 under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Minister, Science, Technology & Environment, Chandigarh, wherein it was also decided that the rolling mills of Mandi Gobindgarh and Khanna area may be allowed to operate on coal as decided in the earlier meeting of Chief Secretary, Punjab on 30/12/2022.                                 Accordingly, the Competent Authority of the Board decided to extend the validity of consent to operate under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 granted to the rolling mills and other industries using coal as fuel in Mandi Gobindgarh area, upto 31/12/2023.                                 The industry is a small-scale rolling mill unit and was granted consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Renewal/FGS/2021/16390846 dated 01/09/2021and under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 CTOA/Renewal/FGS/2021/16390565 dated 28/09/2021 both valid upto 31/03/2022 for the manufacturing Round and TMT Bars @ 23.5 MTD with certain conditions mentioned therein.                                 The industry has applied for obtaining renewal of 'consent to operate' under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The industry was visited by the officers of the Board on 01/11/2023 and observed as under: <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; background: white;">1.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">             The industry was in operation and engaged in the business of manufacturing of Round and TMT Bars by using Billet Bloom, Slab, Ingots as raw material. <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; background: white;">2.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">             The industry has installed wet scrubber APCD to contain the concentration of Particulate matter within the prescribed Standards and the same was found in operation. <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; background: white;">3.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">             During the visit, it was observed that black smoke was emitted into the stack, which indicates that either the APCD installed by the industry is inadequate or it is not being operated effectively. <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; background: white;">4.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';">             The representative of the industry declined to sign the visit performa.                                 Now, the Govt. of Punjab vide its letter no. 10/64/2020-STE4/469 dated 04/10/2023 has notified the State Fuel Policy and this was apprised vide Board’s letter no. 347 dated 05/10/2023 to the Steel Rolling Mills of Mandi Gobindagrh, which is reproduced as under: "The relaxation granted by the Punjab Pollution Control Board on concurrence of the Government to the rolling mills operating in the area of Mandi Gobindgarh for shifting from conventional fuels to cleaner fuels in view of the request of the industrial associations made on the basis of closure of industrial units and escalating prices of cleaner fuel, till the finalization of the State fuel policy or 31.12.2023, whichever is earlier subject to the suitable conditions is now withdrawn.                                 The industrial associations, rolling mills operating in the area of Mandi Gobindgarh were requested to shift to the cleaner fuels. However, the industry is continuously operating its unit by using coal as fuel.                                    Mandi Gobindgarh has been declared Non-attainment city by CPCB and Action Plan for clean air has been prepared and submitted in Hon’ble NGT, New Delhi. One of the key activities of the Action Plan is control of industrial emissions by taking action against non-complying industrial units (CIE-4).                                 The industry is not complying with the conditions of the Consent to establish granted to it under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and found emitting black smoke in the area. Thus, violating the provisions of the said Acts and causing pollution in the vicinity intentionally & deliberately.                                 Accordingly, show cause notice for refusal of renewal of consents to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 was issued to the industry with an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chief Environmental Engineer on 06/12/2023.                                 The representative of the industry attended the hearing and submitted written reply, which was taken on record. He further stated that the industry had started the unit after a period of 8 days and the furnace was lying cold. The furnace took more time for getting required temperature, which caused some excess smoke for few minitues. The system get to normal thereafter and the APCD was working efficient. The industry shall shift to PNG, if no relaxation is given by the Govt. He further requested to drop the notice.                                 It was brought to the notice of Chief Environmental Engineer that the Air Quality Index (AQI)  values for Mandi Gobindgarh around Diwali were 338 on 08/11/2023, 357 on 09/11/2023, 305 on 10/11/2023, 175 on 12/11/2023 (Diwali) and 241 on 13/11/2023. If the comparison of AQI values around Diwali is carried out, it is clear that on the day of Diwali, the AQI of Mandi Gobindgarh was less then the other days because the industry observes holiday on that day. This implies that the  industry is contributing to the environment to the extent that the AQI is almost double to the normal value, when the industry is in operation.                 After hearing the officers of the Board and representative of the industry, Chief Environmental Engineer (B) Patiala decided that : <ol style="margin-top: 0in;" start="1" type="1"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;">The industry shall comply with the fuel policy for industries of State of Punjab issued by the Deptt. of Science, Technology & Environment vide letter no. 469 dated 04/10/2023 and Action Plan for Clean Air, Mandi Gobindgarh. </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;">The industry shall immediately shift its unit to the PNG/ CNG.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;">Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Fatehgarh Sahib shall verify the compliance of Action Plan for Clean Air, Mandi Gobindgarh by the industry within 15 days and submit report alongwith clear cut recommendations, thereafter.</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;">Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Fatehgarh Sahib shall requested to return the case to the industry with request to re-apply the same after compliance of fuel policy mentioned as above.</li> </ol>                                 If approved, the proceedings may be conveyed to the industry as well as Regional Office for ensuring compliance, please.

Inspection:

false

Inspection Note:

Officer:

PPCB103

Reject:

false

Reject Note:

Role:

ZO EE Amit Kumar