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It is submitted that the industry is a small scale orange category rice sheller unit and had granted varied consent to operate under the Water Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Varied/SGR/2020/13026789 dated 05/08/2020 & the Air Act, 1981 vide no. CTOA/Varied/SGR/2020/13026787 dated 05/08/2020, both were valid upto 30/09/2029, for operation of rice sheller to produce Sorted Raw rice (with dryer), by processing Paddy @ 2.0 TPH as raw material.
Thereafter, the industry has obtained NOC for expansion vides CTE/Exp/SGR/2023/22176991 dated 27.06.2023 under the provisions of the Water (Prevention& Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 of rice sheller unit by installing additional machinery to produce Sorted raw rice with dryer @ 4.0 TPH by processing paddy @ 6.0 TPH as raw material in its existing premises at Bhalwan Road, Tehsil Dhuri, District Sangrur.
Now, the industry has sought varied consents under both the Acts and accordingly has applied online under the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 for manufacturing of Sorted raw rice with dryer @ 4.0 TPH by processing paddy @ 6.0 TPH as raw material.
The fee already deposited during grant of previous consents against the gross fixed assets of Rs. 82.03 lacs was adequate upto 30.09.2029. No new fee has been deposited by the industry alongwith current online applications. After considering the old fee & change of fee slab as defined the Board, the fee against gross fixed assets of Rs. 114.21 lacs as on 31.03.2024 as per CA cert. dated 02.04.2024 becomes adequate upto 30.09.2026 under the the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981.
The industry has submitted NOC compliance report and undertaking regarding completion of work regarding APCDs, which will be adequate to achieve the prescribed standards of the Board.
The Govt. of Punjab, Deptt. of Science, Technology & Environment vide notification no 10/48/2004-STE-(4) / 932 dated. 15/10/2013 has notified siting guidelines for new/existing rice sheller unit, which is reproduced as under for any expansion/modernization in the existing rice sheller unit.
Accordingly, the industry was visited by undersigned on 21.06.2024 and it was observed as under:-
1) The industry was not in operation.
2) The industry has installed additional machinery in its premises for the production of sorted raw rice (with dryer) with expanded capacity.
3) The industry has covered all the processing sheds.
4) The industry has already installed cyclones as APCD for shelling section as well as for dryer section and the same were found adequate.
5) The industry has provided brick wall of 15 feet height in front of the discharge point of rice husk area and the length of aforesaid brick wall is 35' on each side of the rice husk discharge point.
5) The industry has provided brick wall of 10 feet height in front of the discharge point of rice husk area and the length of aforesaid brick wall is 35' on each side of the rice husk discharge point. The industry has provided jali of height 5 ft above this wall.
6) The industry has no source of trade effluent generation.
7) The industry has provided sampling arrangements with the stacks of the APCDs.
7) The industry has constructed septic tank for treatment of domestic effluent of the toilet section and disposal onto land for plantation.
8) The industry has planted sapling of trees along the boundary wall.
9) The industry has stabilized the movement area of vehicles from gate to husk area and rice room to prevent the generation of dust emissions.
The Govt. of Punjab, Deptt. of Science, Technology & Environment vide notification no 10/48/2004-STE-(4) / 932 dated. 15/10/2013 has notified siting guidelines for new/existing rice sheller unit, which is reproduced as under for any expansion/modernization in the existing rice sheller unit. “All the rice mills / saila plants located outside the Municipal limits of towns and cities and in the designated areas within the cities established with NOC of Punjab Pollution Control Board will be allowed to expand / modernize within their existing premises, if pollution load of existing unit has been effectively taken care of by the industry and no specific approval of District Town Planner will be required.”
From above, it is found that the industry is complying with the sitting guidelines as well as NOC/consent conditions earlier granted to the industry. The industry is also complying with the code of practice notified by the Govt. of Punjab, Deptt. of Science, Technology & Environment.
In view of above, if approved, varied consent to operate under the Water Act, 1974 & under the Air Act, 1981 may both be granted up to 30.09.2026 for the production of Sorted raw rice with dryer @ 4.0 TPH by processing of paddy @ 6.0 TPH as raw material, with suitable conditions as per the policy of the Board and special condition that the industry shall got analyze its stack emission samples from Board's lab, within one month.
The competency for grant of consents to the rice shellers with or without dryer lies with the Environmental Engineer of the Regional Office.
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