| File Note: |
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">Subject: Proceedings of the personal hearing given by the Chairman of the Board for refusal of renewal of consents to operate under the Water Act, 1974, Air Act, 1981 & refusal of renewal of authorization under HWM Rules, 2016 and notice for imposition of Environmental Compensation (EC) due to the environmental damaged caused by operation of the institute– M/s Desh Bhagat University (Owned by Aasra Foundation Regd.), Amloh Road, Mandi Gobindgarh, Distt. Fatehgarh Sahib on 19/01/2024.</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyTextIndent3" style="margin: 0in; margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> </span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -1.0in; margin: 0in 0in 6.0pt 1.0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">The following were present:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 2.9pt 6.0pt 0in;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">From the Board:</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 3.0pt 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">Er. Lavneet Kumar Dubey, SEE, ZO-II, Patiala</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 3.0pt 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">Er. Amit Kumar, EE, ZO-II, Patiala</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 3.0pt 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">Er. Vijay Kumar, EE, RO, Fatehgarh Sahib </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 3.0pt 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 2.9pt 6.0pt 0in;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">From the institute:</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in .1in .0001pt 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">Sh. Pardeep Kumar, Registrar</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in .1in .0001pt 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> The officers of the Board brought out that the institute was granted consents to operate under the Water Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Renewal/FGS/2023/20350438 dated 23/03/2023 valid upto 30/06/2023 and under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide no. CTOA/Renewal/FGS/2023/20351902 dated 01/03/2023 valid upto 30/06/2023 with certain conditions mentioned therein.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> The institute was also granted under Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 vide no. HWM/Fresh/FGS/2022/17754926 dated 20/01/2022 valid upto 30/09/2022 for generation, collection, storage & disposal of hazardous waste of Cat. no. 5.1 (Used or spent oil) @ 0.200 KL/Annum.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> Now, the institute has applied for renewal consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and authorization under Hazardous & Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016. Accordingly, the institute was visited by the officer of the Board on 01/11/2023 and observed as under:</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">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';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">The institute has installed 3 STP. One is 200 KLD (Engineering Block), second of capacity 200 KLD (Township) and third of capacity 100 KLD STP (School Side).</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">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';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">The institute has by-passed its 2 no. STPs of capacity 200 KLD (Engineering Block and Township) by connecting the pump at inlet of STP to the outlet tank. </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">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';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">The institute did not maintain logbook properly for each of the STPs.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">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';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">Activated carbon filter has not been installed with STPs of capacity 200 KLD and has not provided Screen chamber with STP of capacity 100 KLD. </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt;">5.<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';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">The institute has failed to apply renewal of consents to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and authorization under Hazardous & Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 well before the expiry of the same and is carrying out its activities after the expiry of consents.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> The institute was 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. Thus, violating the provisions of the said Acts and causing pollution in the vicinity intentionally & deliberately. As such, the institute has been issued show cause notice for refusal of renewal of consents to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and refusal of renewal of authorization under Hazardous & Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 vide letter o. 4465 dated 15/12/2023 with an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chairman of the Board on 27/12/2023. </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Accordingly, show cause notice for refusal of renewal of consents to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and refusal of renewal of authorization under Hazardous & Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 as well as notice for imposition of Environmental Compensation (EC) due to the environmental damaged caused by operation of the institute were issued to the institute with an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chairman of the Board on 27/12/2023. However, due to change in venue, the institute could not attend the hearing on said date. The matter was considered by the Competent Authority and it was decided to give another opportunity of hearing on 19/01/2024</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 6.0pt 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; background: white;"> The representative of the instittue attended the hearing and submitted a written reply, which was taken on record. He further stated that the the bye-pass observed by the visiting officer of the Board on 01/11/2023 was not actually a bye-pass. The effluent was being released to the root technology tank. The root technology area is just next to the STP. Only, 2 KLD of wastewater is being treated through this technology and rest of the wastewater is treated through STP and the treated effluent is discharged onto land for plantation. The institute has maintained logbooks for each STP installed within the premises. Due to some mis-understanding, the logbook could not be produced to the visiting officer. The institute has already formed an environmental cell headed by Dr. Arshdeep Singh. The institute is managing its solid waste as per the Solid Waste Rules, 2016. The edible/ organic waste is being sent to pig farm, non-edible waste is disposed off in vermi composting pits and bio-gas plants. The non-degradable waste is disposed off to the authorized re-cyclers. </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0in 6.0pt 0in;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; background: white;"> The institute had already applied for renewal of consents and he further requested to grant consents of the Board under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 alongwith authorization under the Hazardous & Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; background: white;"> After hearing the officers of the Board, representative of the instittue and the Chairman of the Board decided as under :-</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt .5in;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">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';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">The <span style="background: white;">institute</span> shall provide dual plumbing mechanism ts to utilize the treated effluent and to decrease the the ground water abstraction within one month and shall upgrade its STPs accordingly.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt .5in;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">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';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; background: white;">A team of officers of the Board comprising of Er. Vijay Kumar, Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Fatehgarh Sahib, Er. Navtesh Singla, Environmental Engineer, Zonal Office-I, Patiala and Er. Gurkaran, AEE, Regional Office, Patiala shall visit the institute within 10 days to verify the contensions of the representative of the institute. The team shall also submit its comments regarding the adequacy of root zone technology, adequacy of STPs installed and its disposal arrangements alongwith adequacy of the plantation area.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; margin: 0in 0in 10.0pt .5in;"><!-- [if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">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';"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; background: white;">Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Fatehgarh Sahib shall return the consents/ authorization cases applied by the instittue under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and under Hazardous & Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 with a request to re-apply after the visit of the team.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: ComplTahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> If approved, the proceedings may be conveyed to the industry as well as Regional Office for ensuring compliance, please.</span></p> |
