| File Note: |
Subject: Proceedings of the personal hearing given by Chairman of the Board on 23.04.2024 w.r.t notice to issue directions u/s 33-A of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 as amended in 1988 - M/s Vardhman Yarns and Threads Limited, Unit-II,D-295/2, Phase-8, Focal Point, Chandigarh Road, Ludhiana.
The following were present:
On behalf of PPCB
Er. G.S. Majithia, Member Secretary
Er. Pardeep Gupta, CEE, Ludhiana
Er. Paramjeet Singh, SEE, ZO-2, Ludhiana
Er. Samita, EE, ZO-2, Ludhiana
On behalf of industry
Sh. Neeraj Abbott, Director
Officers of the Board brought out that the industry is large scale red category dyeing unit and was granted consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Renewal/LDH4/2023/22882055 dated 09/08/2023, valid upto 31/03/2024 for the production of acrylic & polyster double twisted yarn @25 T/day and all type of synthetic sewing thread @ 5 T/day and for the discharge of trade effluent @ 550 KLD and domestic effluent @ 100 KLD into sewer after treatment through ETP.
As per the directions issued by the Department of Science, Technology & Environment, Govt. of Punjab vide order dated 10.10.2019, the industry requires to segregate its trade effluent from the sewer. A meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Cabinet Minister dated 19.10.2022 and it was decided that all the Large Scale Dyeing units discharging their effluent into municipal sewer, Ludhiana shall take adequate steps to stop discharging their industrial effluent into municipal sewer, Ludhiana by 31.03.2024.
The industry was given personal hearing before the Chairman of the Board on 12.06.2023, wherein it was decided that:
1. The industry shall continue to operate its pollution control devices regularly and efficiently so as to achieve the prescribed standards.
2. The industry shall submit action plan alongwith PERT Chart for the installation and commissioning of ZLD Plant, within 15 days.
3. The industry shall complete, commission, stabilize and operate the upgraded effluent treatment plant so as to achieve zero liquid discharge, by 31.03.2024, failing which Board shall be constrain to take further action as per the Environmental Laws.
4. The industry shall submit a bank guarantee of Rs. 50 Lac with validity for one year, within 15 days as an assurance that the upgraded ETP based on ZLD technology will be installed and commissioned by 31.03.2024.
5. Environmental Engineer, Regional Office- 4, Ludhiana shall verify the contention made by the industry during the hearing and compliance of above said decisions and submit the report with recommendations, within 20 days.
The proceedings of aforesaid personal hearing were conveyed to the industry for compliance.
The industry was visited by officer of the Board on 25.10.2023 and it was observed as under:
1. The industry was found in operation at time of visit and is engaged in dyeing yarn (sewing thread).
2. The samples of the trade effluent were lastly collected from outlet of the ETP on 25.10.2023 and as per the analysis results, the concentration of the various parameters are found within the prescribed limit of MoEF&CC. However, the parameters i.e. BOD, COD & SAR are found beyond the stringent standards prescribed for large scale dyeing units.
3. The industry has not submitted bank guarantee of Rs. 50 Lac as an assurance that the upgraded ETP based on ZLD technology will be installed and commissioned by 31.03.2024.
4. The industry has not submitted action plan along with PERT chart for the installation and commissioning of ZLD plant as already decided during hearing given on 16.06.2023 till date.
5. No physical progress has been made by industry to achieve zero liquid discharge.
The industry was found violating the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
Accordingly, the industry was issued notice u/s 33-A of the Water Act, 1974 alongwith the show cause notice for revocation of consent to operate under the Water Act, 1974 with opportunity of personal hearing before Chairman of the Board on 04.01.2024, wherein it was decided as under:
1. The industry shall submit progress chart regarding the installation and commissioning of ZLD plant, within 03 days.
2. The industry shall submit a bank guarantee of Rs. 10 Lacs, within 07 days as assurance to comply with all Environmental Laws in future.
3. The industry shall submit a bank guarantee of Rs. 50 lac, within 07 days as an assurance that the upgraded ETP based on ZLD technology will be installed and commissioned by 31.03.2024.
4. Environmental Engineer, Regional Office - 4, Ludhiana shall visit the industry and recollect the effluent samples and submit comprehensive report / recommendations, within 15 days.
In compliance of hearing decision, the industry was visited by the officer of the Board on 05.02.2024 and it was observed as under:
1. The industry was found in operation at time of visit and is engaged in dyeing yarn (sewing thread).
2. The industry has not submitted bank guarantee of Rs. 50 Lac as an assurance that the upgraded ETP based on ZLD technology will be installed and commissioned by 31.03.2024.
3. The industry has not submitted action plan along with PERT chart for the installation and commissioning of ZLD plant as already decided during hearing given on 16.06.2023 till date.
4. No progress has been made by the industry with regard to up-gradation of ETP based on ZLD technology and it has also not submitted 10 Lacs and a bank guarantee of Rs. 50 lac, within 07 days as an assurance that the upgraded ETP based on ZLD technology.
5. The industry was given deadline to upgrade its ETP to ZLD upto 31.03.2024, but no progress has been achieved by the industry till date.
6. The treated samples of the trade effluent were lastly collected from outlet of the ETP on 05.02.2024. The analysis report has been received from the Water & Air Lab., Patiala vide letter endst no. 4076-77 dated 14.02.2024, as per analysis report concentration of various parameters are pH=7.4, TSS=15, TDS=930 mg/l, COD=50 mg/l, BOD=9 mg/l, Oil & Grease=BDL, Sulphide=BDL, Phenolic Compound=BDL, Amm. Nitrogen=BDL, SAR=3.55 and Total chrome=BDL, which are within permissible limits prescribed by MoEF&CC as well as stringent standards prescribed for large scale dyeing units.
The industry is still violating the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and is not complying with the decisions of the personal hearing given before Chairman of the Board on 04.01.2024.
The industry has already applied for renewal of consent to operate under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 through OCMMS and same is under process.
Accordingly, notice to issue directions u/s 33-A of Water Act, 1974 as amended in 1988 was issued to the industry with an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chairman of the Board 23.04.2024.
Sh. Neeraj Abbott, Director of the industry attended the hearing and submitted a written reply which was taken on record. He stated that regarding non submitting the bank guarantee of Rs. 50 lac, they are requested to refer the representation made on 16.08.2023, wherein they have explained all the reasons for the same. They have repeatedly submitted that implementing zero liquid discharge (ZLD) poses several challenges for their industry, including massive capital investment, and higher operating costs which will lead to an exorbitantly high cost per kilogram of their product. Such financial burdens will render the industry totally unviable both domestically and internationally. He further informed that they are discharging the wastewater in the sewer only after proper treatment in our state-of-the-art ETP and the discharge parameters are well within the norms laid down by the MOEF & CC as well as the PPCB. Thus, they are not causing any harm to the sewer system or the environment and in fact, they are diluting the severity of the waste water flowing therein. He stated that they have already invested heavily in upgrading our effluent treatment plants, upgraded our machinery, changed our product mix and have given up many lucrative products to achieve these norms. Yet to single out only the large-scale dyeing industry will be against the principles of natural justice. He stated that they assure the esteemed Board that they are prepared to adopt the recommendations of the committee, which has been set up by the Honourable Minister of environment to study alternatives to ZLD. This committee, chaired by PPCB and involving the Sewerage Board and all large scale industries, is yet to reach a decision. Upon the committee's decision, they will proceed as directed.
After hearing, the director of the industry, officers of the Board and considering the material facts of the case, the Chairman of the Board in exercise of the powers conferred under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 decided as under:
1. The industry shall continue to operate its pollution control devices regularly and efficiently so as to achieve the prescribed standards.
2. The industry shall submit action plan alongwith PERT Chart for the installation and commissioning of ZLD Plant, within 15 days.
3. The industry shall complete, commission, stabilize and operate the upgraded effluent treatment plant so as to achieve zero liquid discharge, by 30.06.2024, failing which Board shall be constrain to take further action as per the Environmental Laws.
4. The industry shall submit a bank guarantee of Rs. 50 Lac with validity for one year, within 15 days as an assurance that the upgraded ETP based on ZLD technology will be installed and commissioned by 30.06.2024.
5. Consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 be granted to industry upto 30.06.2024.
6. The industry will be re-heard again after 15.06.2024.
7. Environmental Engineer, Regional Office - 4, Ludhiana shall visit the industry and submit comprehensive report / recommendations, within 15 days.
Submitted for confirmation of decisions of the hearing so that the same could be conveyed to industry and concerned officers for compliance of decisions, please.
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