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It is submitted that the industry is a large scale red category unit. The industry has CTO under Water Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Renewal/LDH2/2018/8108976 expired on 31.03.2023 and under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide no. CTOA/Renewal/LDH2/2021/ 14667585 valid upto 31.03.2025 for manufacturing of products Stainless Steel Products @ 8 MTPD by using NICKEL @ 0.133 MTPD, MANGANESE @ 0.009 MTPD, SILICON @ 0.004 MTPD, CHROME @ 0.220 MTPD and has obtained Authorization under Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2016 31.03.2027.
Thereafter, the industry was given personal hearing before the Chairman of the Board on 27.03.2024 w.r.t. Notice to issue directions u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and 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 as well as notice for imposition of Environmental Compensation (EC) alongwith show cause notice for revocation of authorization granted under the Hazardous and other Waste (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, wherein, it was decided as under:
1. The industry shall ensure that all its pollution control devices are operated regularly and efficiently so as to achieve the prescribed standards.
2. The industry shall commission its STP within one month and shall ensure that treated effluent is discharged onto land for plantation.
3. The industry shall make within a month all compliances w.r.t. violations reported.
4. The industry shall not carry out any expansion at site without obtaining prior NOC of the Board.
5. The industry shall submit a Bank Guarantee of Rs. 10 lacs, within 15 days, as an assurance to comply with the provisions of the Water Act, 1974, Air Act, 1981 and Hazardous and other Waste Rules, 2016, out of which Bank Guarantee of Rs. 05 lacs be encashed.
6. The Environmental Engineer, Regional Office-2, Ludhiana shall verify the submission made by industry and process consent / authorization applications, accordingly. He shall also check / comment that whether the industry is covered under the provisions of EIA notification.
Thereafter, to verify the compliance, the industry was visited by officer of the Board on 06/02/2025 and it was observed as under:
1. The industry was in operation during visit.
2. It has installed 8 Induction furnaces of various capacities as under: (a) Induction furnaces @ 350 Kg/Heat (1 No.), 300 Kg/Heat (3 Nos.), 650 Kg/heat (1 No.) with common APCD and common Stack. (b) Induction furnaces @ 150 Kg/heat (2Nos.) and 200 kg/heat (1 No.) having common APCD and common stack.
3. Both the APCDs were found in operation and the industry was following SOPs prepared by the Board for induction furnace units.
4. It has provided proper sampling arrangements with both the stacks.
5. The industry has installed water meter on its submersible pump.
6. It has now provided adequate stack heights with D.G. Sets.
7. The Hazardous Waste storage room provided by the industry was found adequate with impervious floor and lock & key arrangements. It has stored APCD dust in HDPE bags and maintaining record of the same.
8. It has improved housekeeping in the entire industrial premises.
9. The industry has installed STP for treatment of domestic effluent. STP was in operation and samples from the outlet were collected during visit. As per analysis report, pH is reported as 8.0 against the prescribed standards of 5.5-9.0, TSS is reported as 10 mg/ltr against the prescribed standards of 200 mg/ltr, TDS is reported as 617 mg/ltr against the prescribed standards of 2100 mg/ltr, COD is reported as 60 mg/ltr, BOD is reported as 14 mg/ltr against the prescribed standards of 100 mg/ltr and O&G is reported as BDL against the prescribed standards of 100 mg/ltr. All the parameters are within prescribed standards.
10. The industry has stopped expansion activities at site. It has assured to obtain prior NOC of the Board.
11. The industry is not required to obtain Environmental Clearance under EIA Notification, 2006 as its production capacity is less than 60000 Ton/annum.
12. It is pertinent to mention here that the industry has developed Guru Nanak Bagichi in its industrial premises.
13. The industry vide its letter dated 12.08.2024 has submitted request regarding not to encash Bank Guarantee of Rs. 5 Lacs.
14. The industry is ready to submit a Bank Guarantee of Rs. 10 lacs. However, it has requested not to encash the same as it has complied with Environmental Laws, moreover, developed Guru Nanak Sacred Forest in its premises. This is to formally record that the industry has demonstrated commendable compliance with environmental regulations and guidelines. In adherence to the directives issued by this office, the industry has taken considerable measures to not only meet the stipulated environmental standards but also to go beyond basic compliance. As a testament to their commitment to environmental stewardship, the industry has proactively developed Guru Nanak Bagichi, a green area within its industrial premises, which enhances the local environment and reflects their dedication to sustainable practices.
Given the above, it is respectfully submitted that the Bank Guarantee (BG) deposited by the industry should not be encashed. Their proactive steps and compliance signify their intent to abide by environmental laws and align with our shared objective of sustainable development. Encashing the Bank Guarantee in such circumstances would be counterproductive to encouraging industries to adopt and maintain proactive environmental practices. The industry has not deposited Bank Guarantee as decided during hearing.
Accordingly, the detailed report sent to Zonal Office for further action and the competent authority of the Board has requested to this office to pursue the industry to submit BG, but the industry has not submitted the bank guarantee of Rs. 10.00 Lacs till date in this office.
Now, the industry was surprisingly visited by the officers of the board on 15.12.2025 and it was observed as under:-
1. The industry was in operation during visit and engaged in the process of casting of pieces (stainless steel).
2. The industry has not provided hoods at each crucible being operated.
3. The industry has installed various shot blasting machines without proper APCD and stacks.
4. The hazardous waste generation in the process is very less. However, the door of the hazardous waste room was open during visit.
5. The air emission sampling could not be conducted due to absence of any visible emissions, as the heat was near completion, as well as late evening hours.
6. The industry has installed STP of capacity 50 KLD, which was not in operation initially and was made operational during the visit. The sample from outlet of STP was collected during the visit. The treated effluent is discharged in plantation area.
7. The industry has installed 2 DG sets of capacity 320 KVA & 380 KVA each with canopy & adequate stack height.
8. The industry has not properly maintained the record of hazardous waste.
As such, the industry is not complying with the provisions of Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981 and Hazardous Waste Management Rules.
Now, the industry has applied for varied consent to operate under Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981 alongwith requisite documents for manufacturing of products Auto Parts and Engineering Goods Items @ 8 MTPD by using SS Scrap @ 8.7 MTPD, Chrome @ 0.330 MTPD, Manganese @ 0.012 MTPD, Silicon @ 0.020 MTPD, Nickel @ 0.230 MTPD . The industry has deposited Rs. 4,48,800/- vide e-R No. HDFCR52023032292187553 dated 22.03.2023 & Rs. 344000/- vide UTR no. HDFCR52025121695565836 dated 16.12.2025 & Rs. 504000/- vide UTR no. HDFCR52025121695607709 dated 16.12.2025 under Air Act, 1981 against the un-depreciated fixed assets of Rs. 6121.38 Lacs as on 31.03.2025, which is adequate upto 30/06/2029 under Water Act, 1974 & Air Act, 1981, as per Board's Office Order dated 29/10/2018 after deducting penalty fee. But, the industry has not submitted the bank guarantee of Rs. 10.00 Lacs till date in this office.
It is therefore recommended that varied consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 may be refused with the opportunity of personal hearing before the competent authority of the Board, please.
(Competency – Hon’ble Chairperson of the Board)
Cost of plant and machinery of Rs. 3676.79 Lacs)
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