| File Note: |
It is submitted that the establishment is an existing poultry farm and was consent to operate by the Board under the Water Act, 1974 vide no. G14PTACTOW1457204 dated 04/04/2014 and under the Air Act, 1981 vide no. G14PTACTOA1457113 dated 04/04/2014, both was valid upto 31/12/2024, for operation of poultry farm for 50,000 eggs, under green category.
Now, the poultry farm has submitted that they had carried out expansion of the production capacity of the poultry farm from production of 50,000 eggs to 1,35,000 eggs before the year 2015, well before the date of notification regarding sitting guidelines for establishment of poultry farm vide no. Central Pollution Control Board letter No. B-4032/PCI-SSI/Poultry/2015/13165 dated 20.10.2015. It is further submitted that, they had taken over the poultry farm from old partners in year, Sept. 2015 and no new expansion of the poultry farm is carried out after takeover from old partners. As documentary evidence, the poultry farm has also submitted year wise CA certificates, showing that no land, building, plant & machinery has been added after the year, 2015. The detail of the CA certificate is attached in the agenda note.
From the above, it is observed that the industry had not carried out any expansion after 31.03.2015.
Further, as per the record, the total land available with the poultry farm was established 13 bigha 10 biswa, which falls in the Vill. Tepla, Tehsil Rajpura, Distt. Patiala for which classification of Land has already been obtained from Deptt. of Town and Country, Planning vide its memo no. 365 dated 07.12.2013. As per the classification certificate, the site of the poultry farm is located in a rural and agriculture zone of the notified Master Plan of Rajpura, where, the poultry farm is permissible.
Now, the project proponent has submitted that the total land available with the poultry farm was 49 bigha 1 biswa 12 bishwasi, out of which poultry farm was established and regularized in land measuring 13 bigha 10 biswa only. However, thereafter, the total land was added into the poultry farm, which was already purchased well before 2015 i.e. land measuring 5 bighe 16 bishwe 15 biswasi vide registry dated 19.10.2007, 4 bighe 15 bishwe 16-1/4 biswasi vide registry dated 22.07.2008, 8 bighe 17 bishwe 18-3/4 biswasi vide registry dated 20.04.2011, 8 bighe 18 biswe 18-1/2 biswasi, vide registry dated 07.04.2008, 1 bighe 18 biswe 18-1/2 biswasi, vide registry dated 15.04.2010 and 13 bighe 10 biswe, vide registry dated 31.07.2007.
For that reason, the poultry farm has submitted a certificate issued from Tehsildar Rajpura, dated 12.04.2024, mentioning that the site of the poultry farm having total land 49 bigha 1 bishwe 12 bishwasi, which is located One KM outside Village Phirni and Lal Lakir of Village Tepla.
Accordingly, the poultry farm has now applied for obtaining varied consent under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 under ORANGE Category for production of 1,35,000 eggs using layered birds @ 2,00,000. The industry has also deposited consent fee as applicable for obtaining varied consents under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 w.e.f. 01.01.2015 against the fixed assets amounting to Rs. 687.88 lacs under Orange Category, which are adequate upto 30.09.2030, as mentioned at Sr. no. (vii).
A similar case of M/s Alpine Poultry, Village Kheri Musalmania, Tehsil & Distt. Patiala was granted by Regional office, Patiala after taking legal opinion from Senior Law Officer of the Board (copy enclosed), in which the promoter has made capacity expansion of the farm before 2015.
Now, if the case regarding expansion of the poultry farm before in year, 2015 (well before the notification for the sitting guidelines for establishment of poultry farm), is considered, then only general sitting guidelines will be applicable to the poultry farm. For that reason, the poultry farm has submitted a certificate issued from Tehsildar Rajpura, dated 12.04.2024, mentioning that the site of the poultry farm having total land 49 bigha 1 bishwe 12 bishwasi is located One KM outside Village Phirni and Lal Lakir of Village Tepla. Further, for perusal of the notified Master plan Rajpura, the site of the poultry farm seems to fall in the rural and agriculture zone as per Master Plan, hence the site suitable.
Further, as per the record file, the poultry farm was earlier visited by the officer of this office on 02.02.2024 and the poultry farm was found violating the environmental guidelines prescribed for poultry farm unit. Accordingly, show cause notice for revocation /cancellation of consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide this office letter no. 490 dated 22.02.2024 alongwith personal hearing before EE, RO, Patiala on 07.03.2024 postponed to 12.03.2024. After hearing, it was decided as under:
1. The poultry farm shall apply varied consent to operate under the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 under orange category at increased capacity, within 15 days.
2. The poultry farm shall comply with the latest guidelines issued by CPCB vide its letter dated 10.01.2022 in light of the NGT order dated 10.12.2021 in O.A. No. 320/2021.
3. The poultry farm shall provide air pollution control device on its feed mills so as to control the dust emissions.
4. The poultry farm shall provide adequate treatment facility for its domestic effluent and shall provide adequate plantation for utilization of treated effluent.
5. The poultry farm shall provide canopies and adequate stack height with its D.G. set within 7 days.
6. The poultry farm shall provide dead birds burial pit of adequate capacity as per the latest guidelines.
7. Asstt. Environmental Engineer shall visit the poultry within 15 days and process the consent applications of the poultry farm on merits.
Now, to check the latest compliance, the poultry farm was visited by the AEE of this office on 27.06.2024 and Sh. Ajay Garg, Partner of the industry was present at site. During visit, it was observed as under:
1. The poultry farm is located at Village Tepla, Banur Tepla Shambu Barrier Road, Tehsil Rajpura, District Patiala and is surrounded by another poultry farms.
2. The industry has provided 8 no. poultry sheds which are positioned from East to West direction.
3. The poultry has now stored the bird droppings beneath the poultry sheds. The poultry farm has filled the birds droppings area with water to maintain the moisture content in order to restrict the growth of larva and flies.
4. The representative of the poultry farm informed that bird droppings are removed twice a year at the time of new crops to be used as manure in the fields.
5. The poultry farm has also installed 2 no. poultry feed mills in its premises and same was found in operation. It has now provided with dust collector i.e. cyclone separator as APCD with poultry feed mill.
6. The poultry farm has installed 03 no. D.G sets of capacity 80 KVA, 50 KVA and 125 KVA equipped with canopy and adequate of stack height.
7. The poultry farm has provided septic tank for treatment of domestic effluent generated from the premises.
8. The poultry farm has provided boundary wall.
9. The poultry farm has provided new pit for the disposal of dead birds. The representative informed that lime and salt are being used regularly for the decomposition of the dead birds in the pits and stack of height 3 feet has been provided with the pit.
10. The poultry farm is using chemicals and medicines to control the problem of odour and flies.
11. As per record file, no compliant case is pending against the poultry farm.
12. During visit, it was found that no Lal Lakir / Phirni of any village, residential area comprising of 15 pucca houses falls within the radius of 100 mtr of the poultry farm.
As, the poultry farm has made expansion before 2015 i.e. well before the sitting guidelines notified by CPCB for poultry farms in the year Nov. 2015. Thus, General sitting guidelines would be applicable in the said matter.
Therefore, as per the report of Tehsildar Rajpura visit of the undersigned, the site of the poultry farm is complying with the general sitting guidelines as applicable during the period of its expansion.
In the current guidelines issued by CPCB, installation of mechanical scrapper/be conveyer for the removal of bird droppings from the poultry shed has not been made mandatory However, it has been proposed that bird droppings are removed once in four to six months & sold to the farmers. Following methods have been proposed in the guidelines for the disposal and utilization of bird droppings.
Sr. No Poultry Farms Methods for Disposal/Utilization of manure
1. Small Poultry Farms Composting
2. Medium & Large Poultry disposal/ utilization of manure Composting or Biogas production for farmers/litter Combination of any of the methods for disposal/utilization of manure/litter
3. Poultry Farms in Cluster Common facilities for Biogas production on Composting or their combination
Further, Deptt. Of Housing & Urban Development, Govt. of Punjab vide its notification dated 6/5/2016 has laid down following policy for poultry farms.
“In an endeavor to promote agriculture allied activities like poultry farming Dairy farming, pig farming, Fish farming, Bee keeping, Mushroom farming, Sericulture in the State of Punjab and to supplement the dwindling agriculture income of the farmer and to generate employment opportunities for the unemployed youth of the State, the Governor of Punjab is pleased to exempt aforesaid activities from taking permission of change of land use from the competent authority of the Govt. of Punjab. The promoters of these activities will not be required to take NOC from the competent authority for taking electricity connection from Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) or availing bank loan etc.”
The poultry farm has also submitted approved building plans for the unit from a competent person approved from Director of Factories.
From the above, it is evident that the industry is complying with the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 and under Air Act 1981.
Keeping above in view, if approved, the case be sent to SEE, ZO-1, Patiala with the request to allow this office to grant varied consents to operate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for manufacturing of Eggs @ 1,35,000 egg Per day by using 2,00,000 layer birds and Poultry Feed, Maize, Bajra, Soya Bean, Gne, Mustard, Drb, Grids, Vitamins, Minerals & Antibiotics etc. @ 20 MT/day may be granted to the industry upto 30.09.2030 with suitable conditions as per policy of the Board as special conditions as under:
1. The poultry farm shall not increase its bird capacity without obtaining prior NOC/ varied consent to operate from the Board as well as without providing adequate pollution control measures.
2. The poultry farm shall adopt latest environmental guidelines for poultry farms issued by the CPCB in true letter and spirit.
3. The industry shall ensure that there is no public nuisance polluted in the area due to activities within its premises.
4. The industry shall comply with the guidelines of the Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA).
5. The poultry farm shall comply with the environmental guidelines/code of practice prescribed by the Board/CPCB.
6. The poultry farm will maintain set back distance of 10 meter between poultry shed and boundary of the unit.
7. The poultry farm shall obtain necessary permissions from the concerned departments.
8. The poultry farm shall provide composting pits to process birds droppings into manure as per the procedure laid down in the guidelines.
9. The poultry farm shall make efforts to convert the hatchery waste (shells) into animal feed to supply as a source of calcium, especially for poultry feeds.
10. The poultry farm shall provide an appropriate holding tank to collect and utilize the waste water generated from the cleaning operation onto land for plantation.
11. The poultry farm shall provide proper treatment and disposal of manure, ventilation sheds, control of temperature, good sanitation, swift repairs of leak avoidance of feed spills, prompt removal of broken eggs and dead birds shall be ensured for control of flies in the poultry farms. The farm should have provisions of wire nettings, traps, fly-repellents, insecticides etc.
12. The poultry farm shall provide methods for the control of rodents, which may include Exclusion, Trapping Glue boards, Tracking powder, rodent proof doors and windows to eliminate rodents/pest infestation.
13. As per Bureau of Indian Standards 1374: 2007, on poultry feed specifies that the use of antibiotic growth promoters is not recommended in poultry feed. Hence use of antibiotics should not be mixed with feed or administered non-therapeutic purposes without prescription for diseased birds |
