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Subject: Application for obtaining renewal of consent to operate u/s 25/26 of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and u/s 21 of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 of M/s Gobindgarh Stone Crushers Pvt Ltd, Village- Ailgran, Tehsil Anandpur Sahib, Distt. Rupnagar.
The industry was granted consent to operate under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Renewal/RPN/2019/11422347 dated 14/10/2019 and under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide no. CTOA/Renewal/RPN/2019/11422172 dated 14/10/2019 both were expired on 30.09.2023 for operation of screening cum washing plant of capacity@ 20000 cft/day subject to the suitable conditions mentioned therein.
It is submitted that the industry has got its 'consent to operate' auto renewed under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide no. CTO/Renewal/RPN/2023/24175509 dated 15/11/2023 valid upto 15/11/2028 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide no. CTO/Renewal/RPN/2023/24175485 dated 15/11/2023 valid upto 15/11/2028.
The industry was issued show cause notice for revocation/ cancellation of consent to operate granted under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide this office letter no. 216 dated 2/2/2024. But, the industry has not submitted any reply of the said notice within stipulated time period.
The industry was visited by officer of the Board on 8/2/2024 and contacted Sh. Gurjeet Singh, representative of the industry. During visit, it was observed that the industry has failed to comply with the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the code of practice laid down by the Government of Punjab and guidelines issued by the CPCB for such units, intentionally and deliberately. Therefore, the consent to operate granted under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 were revoked / cancelled vide no. 391 dated 7/3/2024.
It is further submitted that the mining inspector Rupnagar has got registered an FIR no. 48 dated 18.4.2023 at Police Station Nurpurbedi u/s 21(1) & 4(1) of mining and minerals (regulation of development) Act, 1957 against the unknown owners of M/s Gobindarh Stone Crusher, Ailgran, Rupnagar.
Thereafter the notice issued to the industry u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 as amended in 1988 & u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide Board's letter no. 1131 Dated 27/05/2024 alongwith an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chairman of the on 7/6/2024 at 11.00 AM and it was decided as under:
1) The following directions u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 shall be issued to the industry: -
"The stone crusher shall not operate its plant without obtaining prior consents of the Board as required under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 as well as compliance of the code of practice prescribed for stone crushing units."
2) The industry shall comply with the latest code of practice for stone crushing units framed by CPCB in July 2023 by 30/9/2024 positively.
3) Environmental Compensation shall be imposed on the stone crusher for violating the Environmental Laws.
4) Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Rupnagar shall verify the contentions of the industry made during the hearing, calculate the Environmental Compensation accordingly. She shall also get the Environmental Compensation verified from the Committee constituted by the Board for this purpose and get the orders issued from the Competent Authority in this regard, within 15- days.
5) It was made clear to the industry that in case the industry was again found violating in the Environmental norms, strict action shall be taken against the industry without giving any further opportunity/ notice.
It is also added here that in compliance of the hearing decision no. 2, this office has been recalculated the Environment Compensation as under and sent through e-noting no. 25119063 dated 04.7.2024 and detail is as under:
EC (Rs.) = PI x N x R x S x L
PI = 50
N = 431 (From 26.04.2022 i.e. date of revocation/cancellation of previous consents to 30.06.2023 i.e. till the unit was operational as per return filed by it to the Mining Department). It is also submitted that, previously the number of days were mentioned as 317, inadvertently as typographic mistake. However, the time period was mentioned correctly.
R = 250
S = 0.5
L = 1
EC = Rs. 26,93,750/-.
Now, the industry has applied for obtaining fresh consent to operate under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 alongwith requisite documents for manufacturing of screening cum washing plant of capacity@ 20000 cft/day.
Further, the industry has submitted the CA certificate wherein, the value of fixed assets of the unit as on 04.07.2024 is Rs. 3.07 crore with value of plant & machinery is Rs. 87.81 lakhs. As per record file, the fee deposited by the industry adequate upto 15.11.2028 under both acts. Now, the fee is re-calculated and the fee is adequate upto 30.09.2026 after adjustment penalty and revocation/cancelation fee.
Now, in compliance of the hearing decisions and consent applied by the industry the site was visited by undersigned alongwith JEE on 24.07.2024 and Sh. Manpreet Singh Gill (Owner), was contacted. During visit, it was observed as under:
1) The unit is a screening cum washing plant and same was not in operation.
2) The industry has installed 01 no. wet screen and 01 no. dry screen. The industry has covered dry screen with GI/MS sheets.
3) The unit has provided rubber chutes at the end of conveyor belts.
4) The unit has made a pucca ramp road with concrete slab.
5) The industry has provided pucca settling tank for the recirculation of wastewater for the washing purpose. The industry has also provided recirculation pump onto it.
6) The industry has provided water sprinklers along the approach road to supress the dust emission arise from the vehicle movement.
7) The industry has provided CCTV/PTZ cameras at the entrance and all conners of the premises of the unit.
8) The unit has provided plantation along the boundaries, which is adequate.
9) The industry has provided septic tanks for the treatment of the domestic effluent and discharge onto land for plantation.
10) The unit has provided one no. DG set of capacity of 125 KVA which is provided with canopy and stack of adequate height.
11) The industry has also provided water meter on the submersible pump, however, the industry has not maintained the record and during visit, the industry was advised to maintain the record properly.
12) The unit has provided Environmental data board near the entrance.
It is further submitted that the CPCB has issued Environmental Guidelines for stone crushing units, however, this unit is screening-cum-washing plant only, therefore, the said guidelines are not applicable in this unit
The industry is complying with conditions of 'consent to operate' granted under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
In view of the above facts, may if approved, the consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 may be granted upto 30.09.2025, subject to the suitable conditions as mentioned in the previous consents granted to the unit and additional conditions as under:
In view of the above, may if approved, it is recommended that:
A. Action recommended by this office u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 regarding issuing directions for closure of the unit may please be dropped.
B. Consent to operate under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 may be granted upto 30.09.2025 subject to suitable conditions and following additional conditions that:
1) This consent is granted for operation of screening cum washing plant of capacity@ 20000 cft/day .
2) The industry shall renew its Registration certificate from Mines and Geology and submit the same in this office, before start its operation.
3) The industry will comply with the guidelines/code of practice issued by the Govt. of Punjab, Department of Science, Technology and Environment Vide dated 17.03.1988, amended in 01.02.2006 and lastly amended vide no. 3/35/2013-STE(4)734 dated 30.07.2013 at all time.
4) The unit shall obtain carrying capacity certificate of the area from Deptt. Mines & Geology, Department of Water Resources and act on basis of such certificates as per the Board's office order issued vide no. 16536 dated 23.07.2021.
5) The unit shall obtain raw material from the legal mining sites approved by the Water Sources-cum-Mining Department and shall not indulge itself into any kind of illegal mining. If at any stage the unit engaged itself in illegal mining, the consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 shall be revoked/cancelled without any opportunity of hearing.
6) The unit shall maintain a stock register to justify the legitimate source of mining material, its availability, usage and sale etc.
7) The industry will submit half yearly return to this office duly verified by the Mining officer by 15th of July and 15th Jan of every year.
8) Nothing in this consent shall be deemed to preclude the institution of any legal action nor relieve the applicant from any responsibilities, liabilities or penalties to which the applicant is or may be subjected under this or any other Act.
9) The industry shall discharge only domestic effluent onto land for plantation after treating through septic tank.
10) The authorized outlet and mode of disposal shall not be changed without the prior written permission of the Board.
11) The industry shall not change or alter the manufacturing process (es) so as to change the quality and/or quantity of the effluents generated without the written permission of the Board.
12) Any upset conditions in the plant/plants of the factory, which is likely to result in increased effluent and/or result in violation of the standards laid down by the Board Shall be intimated through email-eeroropar@gmail.com to the Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Rupnagar.
13) The industry shall not exceed the production capacity mentioned in this consent and shall not increase the same without the prior written permission of the Board.
14) The industry shall get the annual health survey of the workers conducted and shall maintain a proper record of the same.
15) This consent does not bestow any ownership rights with the consent holder and further the CTO is being granted only from pollution angle and cannot be used as any legal tool/document to ascertain/confirm proprietary rights.
16) The industry shall inform the Board in writing as and when any change is occurred in the Partnership Deed / Proprietorship / Memorandum of Article of Association, especially with regard to the name and address of the Partner / Proprietor / Director / Subscriber etc, and in any case the industry fails to do so and later on it comes to the notice of the Board that there is any change in Partnership Deed / Proprietorship / Memorandum of Article of Association, action as deem fit under the provision of said Act shall be taken.
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