| File Note: |
Subject: Proceedings of the personal hearing given by the Chief Environmental Engineer (B) of the Board for refusal of consents to operate under the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981 and u/s 33-A of the Water as amended in 1988 and u/s 31-A of the Air Act, 1981 as amended in 1987 to M/s Karan Industries, D-19 Focal Point, Sunam Road, Sangrur on 02/07/2024.
The following were present:
From the Board:
Er. Lavneet Dubey, SEE, ZO-II, Patiala
Er. Amit Kumar, EE, ZO-II, Patiala
From the industry:
Sh. Hardeep Singh, Prop.
Environmental Engineer, Zonal Office-II, Patiala brought that the industry is a small scale orange category unit, engaging in manufacturing of Plastic Gitta. During the visit in odd hours by the AEE of Regional Office, Sangrur on 26.07.2023, the industry was found burning the waste plastic in an open plot.
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 with an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chief Environmental Engineer (B) on 25.09.2023, wherein it was decided that Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Sangrur 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.
The industry has applied for obtaining consents of the Board under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
The industry was visited by the AEE of Regional Office, Sangrur on 20.05.2024 and it was observed that: -
1. The industry was found not in operation. The laborers present during visit informed that the industry is being put in operation in the late evening hours.
2. The industry has provided wet scrubber as APCD with adequate stack height. However, no sampling arrangements have been provided.
3. The industry has not maintained record w.r.t. operation of APCD.
4. During visit, it was observed 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.
5. The house keeping was found poor. The labor is re-siding in an un-hygienic environment.
The industrialists of industrial focal point have also visited the office of Environmental Engineer, Sangrur on 16.05.2024 and expressed the concern about the pollution being caused by operation of said unit.
The industry is not complying with the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Thus, violating the provisions of the said Acts and causing pollution in the vicinity intentionally & deliberately.
Accordingly, show cause notice for refusal of consents to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and notice to issue directions u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 as amended in 1988 and u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 as amended in 1987 was issued to the industry proposing for closure of the unit with an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chief Environmental Engineer (B) of the Board on 24/06/2024. No one from the industry attended the personal hearing on said date, neither submitted any reply of the notice served to it. The matter was considered by the Competent Authority and it was decided to give another opportunity of hearing on 02/07/2024.
The representative of the industry attended the personal hearing and submitted the written reply, which was taken on record. He stated that the industry has applied for 5 times, but every time the applications were returned due to some observations. The industry do not carryout washing of the raw material, therefore no ETP is required as no trade effluent is generated. Water is only used for domestic purposes. The industry has already provided sampling arrangements with its APCD and is committed to provide proper hygenic environment to the labour. He further requested to grant consents to operate of the Board under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
After hearing the officers of the Board and representative of the industry, Chief Environmental Engineer (B) Patiala decided that Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Sangrur shall personally visit the industry immediately to verify the contentions of the representative of the industry and shall submit report/ recommendations, immediately so as to decide the consent applications of the industry.
If approved, the proceedings may be conveyed to the industry as well as Regional Office for ensuring compliance, please.
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