| File Note: |
Sub: Proceedings of the personal hearing given before Chief Environmental Engineer, Ludhiana for refusal of consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 on 02.09.2024 - M/s Del Monte Foods India (North) Private Limited, Plot no 31,32,35 & 36, Mega Food Park, VPO-Ladhowal, Distt. Ludhiana.
The following were present:
On behalf of Punjab Pollution Control Board
Er. Nikhil Gupta, EE, ZO-II, Ludhiana
On behalf of the industry
Sh. Ankit Sharma, Plant Head
Sh. Ajeet Singh, Assistant Manager
Environmental Engineer, Zonal Office-2, Ludhiana brought out that the project proponent was granted ‘Consent to Operate’ under the Water Act, 1974 vide no: CTOW/Fresh/LDH3/2023/22317179 dated 17.08.2023 valid upto 31.03.2024 for manufacture Emulsions @ 40 TPD and Reds @ 60 TPD alongwith generation of trade Effluent @ 70 KLD for discharge into CETP of Mega Food Park of PAIC after pre-treatment through in-house ETP (to achieve the CETP inlet standards) & Domestic Effluent @ 10 KLD for discharge into CETP of Mega Food Park of PAIC, subject to suitable conditions.
Now, the industry has applied for renewal of ‘Consent to Operate’ under the Water Act, 1974 & the Air Act, 1981 to manufacture Emulsions @ 40TPD and Reds @ 60TPD alongwith generation of trade Effluent @ 70 KLD for discharge into CETP of Mega Food Park of PAIC, after pre-treatment through in-house ETP (to achieve the CETP inlet standards) & Domestic Effluent @ 10 KLD for discharge into CETP of Mega Food Park of PAIC.
The industry was visited by the officer of the Board and the effluent samples from outlet to pre-treatment facility installed by the industry were collected on 04.07.2024 and as per analysis report, concentration of various parameters is pH = 9.2 (6.5-8.5), TSS= 82 mg/l (800 mg/l), COD = 920 mg/l (3000 mg/l), BOD = 280 mg/l (1500 mg/l), Oil & Grease = 22.2 mg/l (100 mg/l). The industry is not meeting with the inlet prescribed standards w.r.t. pH.
The industry was found violating the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
Accordingly, show cause notice for refusal of consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 was issued to the industry with an opportunity of personal hearing before Chief Environmental Engineer, Ludhiana on 14.08.2024.
Sh. Ankit Kumar, Plant Head, Sh. Ajeet Singh, Maintenance Manager & Sh. Rakesh Raturi, Manager attended the hearing and submitted a written reply which was taken on record. They requested for 10 days to submit proposal regarding potential / remedies to control the pH level.
After hearing, the representatives of the industry and officers of the Board, the Chief Environmental Engineer of the Board decided that another opportunity of personal hearing be afforded to the industry, after 15 days.
The matter was considered and it was decided to give another opportunity of personal hearing on 02.09.2024.
Sh. Ankit Sharma, Plant Head & Sh. Ajeet Singh, Assistant Manager attended the hearing and submitted a written reply which was taken on record. He submitted that the industry has started measuring the pH of effluent of every shift and the effluent is released into the CETP after ensuring that the effluent is meeting with the inlet discharge criteria of the CETP. He further informed that the industry has released the purchase order for the auto pH Control System and the same will be install by 20.09.2024 and he therefore requested to grant the consent to operate on the basis of submission made.
After hearing, the representatives of the industry and officers of the Board, the Chief Environmental Engineer of the Board decided that:
1. The consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 be granted to the industry upto the adequacy of consent fee subject to suitable conditions and a special condition that the industry will install Automatic pH monitoring system, within one month.
2. Environmental Engineer, Regional Office-3, Ludhiana shall visit the industry after one month to ensure compliance and send report. He shall collect samples during visit to monitor the compliance of standards.
Submitted for confirmation of decisions of the hearing and conveying to the all concerned, please. |
