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It is submitted that the establishment is a small scale orange category unit, engaging in manufacturing of Plastic Gitta from Waste Plastic Polythene by involving in the process of Sorting → Washing of raw material → Grinding → Extrusion → Cooling and Cutting and is operating without obtaining consent to establish of the Board.
Whereas, during the visit in odd hours by the then AEE of this office on 26.07.2023, the industry was found violating the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 & the Air Act, 1981 by setting up the fire to the waste plastic in an open plot. Accordingly, the industry was issued notice to issue directions u/s 33-A of the Water Act, 1974 and u/s 31-A of the Air Act along with an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chief Environmental Engineer (B) Patiala.
After hearing the officers of the Board and representative of the industry on 25.09.2023, Chief Environmental Engineer (B) Patiala was decided as under: -
'this office shall keep vigil on the industry and shall carryout three surprise visits of the industry in the wee hours within one month and process the consent applications of the industry.'
In compliance to the personal hearing decisions, the industry has been applied 4 times through OCMMS for obtaining fresh consents to operate of the Board under the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 for manufacturing of Plastic Gitta @ 0.7 T/day by using Waste Plastic Polythene @ 0.7 T/day, as raw material under orange category. However, all time, the applications were returned due to incompletion of the same.
Now, the industry has again applied for obtaining consents of the Board for manufacturing of aforesaid product with same quantity.
Along with the application, the industry has provided: -
1. the feasibility report along with completion certificate w.r.t. the installation of wet scrubber as APCD for prevention and control of air pollution.
2. The approved building plan obtained from the Competent Person of the Director of Factories.
3. The CA certificate mentioning the value of gross fixed assets of the industry.
4. The electricity bill as a proof of date of commissioning of the unit.
5. Lease deed of land & building, valid upto 19.07.2025.
6. Water consumption receipt obtained from PSIEC, Industrial Focal Point, Sangrur.
The industry has already deposited Rs. 1,510/- vide UTR no. 725735465 dated 25.09.2023 and Rs. 800/- deposited vide UTR No. 306917006 dated 28/12/2023 under the Water Act, 1974. And Rs. 1,510/- vide UTR no. 932073300 dated 25.09.2023 and Rs. 800/- deposited vide UTR No. 446021404 dated 28/12/2023 under the Air Act, 1981. It has also deposited Rs. 1,100/- vide UTR no. 932073300 dated 25.09.2023 as NOC regularization fee. The fee deposited by the industry after deducting the penalty fee (being late applied within the period of 6-9 months) under both Acts, is adequate upto 30.09.2024 against the gross fixed assets of Rs. 5.50 lacs as on 25/07/2023.
During scrutiny, the application submitted and the documents provided along with the fee deposited by the industry is found complete and adequate.
To comply with the hearing decision and to verify the submissions made by the industry, it was visited by undersigned on 20.05.2024 and during visit, it was observed that: -
1. The industry was found not in operation.
2. The laborers present during visit informed that the industry is being put in operation in the late evening hours.
3. The industry has provided wet scrubber as APCD with adequate stack height. However, no sampling arrangements have been provided.
4. The industry has not maintained record w.r.t. operation of APCD.
5. During visit, it comes to notice that the raw material i.e. Waste Plastic Polythene is being washed within industrial premises. However, no ETP has been provided for treatment of trade effluent is being generated during washing of raw material and the wastewater is being discharged directly into PSIEC sewer without any treatment.
6. The house keeping was found poor. The labor is re-siding in an un-hygienic environment.
It is pertinent to mention here that the industrialists of industrial focal point was also visited to the office of Environmental Engineer on 16.05.2024 and expressed the concern about the pollution being caused by operation of said unit and made complaints regarding air pollution, which is being caused due to the operations of unit.
From the above, it is clear that the industry is not complying with the provisions of Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981.
In view of above, the consent to operate under the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981 applied by the industry may be refused and further action in continuation of decisions taken during personal hearing held by the Competent Authority of the Board may be initiated against the industry.
Competency SEE.
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