| File Note: |
Sir, it is intimated that the industry was issued directions u/s 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 vide no. 897 dated 27/03/2023 and PSPCL were directed vide no. 899-900 dated 27/03/2023 to disconnect the supply of electricity of the industry. However, the authorities have failed to disconnect the supply of electricity of the industry. Further, the industry was again visited by the officer of the Board on 14/05/2023 and the industry was found violating the provisions of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and also failed to comply with the directions issued by the Board. Accordingly, directions u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 as amended in 1987 were issued to the industry and the PSPCL Authorities were directed vide Board's letter no. 2430-31 dated 11/07/2023 to disconnect the supply of electricity available to the industry.
However, the industry failed to comply with the directions issued to it and was found violating the provisions of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 time and again. Accordingly, notice for imposition of Environmental Compensation (EC) due to the environmental damage caused by operation of the industry was issued to the industry along with an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chairman of the Board on 04/10/2023. The representative of the industry attended the hearing and submitted that the industry has already filed an appeal before the Hon'ble Appellate Authority-cum-Secretary to Govt. of Punjab, Deptt. of Science, Technology & Environment. The Appellate Authority vide its decision dated 05/09/2023 has set aside the order Board's order no. 2428 dated 11/07/2023 and has remanded back the case to Chairman of the Board with direction to get surprise visit conducted of the unit to check the compliance as claimed by the industry. The Chairman, Punjab Pollution Control Board shall pass fresh order in the case in accordance with the Law.
After hearing the officers of the Board and the representative of the industry, the Chairman of the Board decided as under:
1. The team of officers of the Board comprising of Er. R.K. Nayyar, SEE, ZO, Bathinda, Er. Navtesh Singla, EE, ZO-I, Patiala and Er. Mohit Singla, AEE, RO, Patiala shall visit the industry surprisingly within 15 days and shall submit report/recommendations accordingly.
2. The Executive Engineer, PSPCL, Fatehgarh Sahib shall be given personal hearing before the Chairman of the Board for non-compliance of directions being issued by the Board from time to time.
In compliance to the hearing decisions, the industry was visited by said team headed by the Senior Environmental Engineer, ZO, Bathinda on 15/01/2024 and report of the said team has been incorporated in the agenda note. Therefore, the directions for disconnection of the electric supply of the industry may be deferred.
Submitted as per earlier recommendations, please. |
