| File Note: |
The report/ recommendations of RO were examined and it was noted as under:
# The industry was lastly granted consent to operate under the (Prevention & control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, valid till 21.12.2025 subject to certain conditions and one of the special conditions that the industry shall install OCEMS at the outlet of ETP as well as its stack, within 3 months of start of operations at the site and shall get the same connected with server of PPCB/CPCB within 15 days thereafter.
# Thereafter, a compliant has been received in the Regional Office regarding damaged plantation area.
# To verify the compliant, the site was visited by officers of RO on 18.12.2025 and during visit it was observed that:
1. The industry was not in operation.
2. The project proponent has not installed OCEMS at outlet of ETP as well its stack as per special condition of the consent to operate.
3. The industry has installed ETP consisting of 3 no. collection tanks. The industry representative informed that neutralization will be done by adding dilute HCL and no other treatment will be done and sludge will be removed from collection tank no. 2. The industry has provided water meter on the inlet of ETP and outlet of ETP and has not produced record during visit.
4. The industry has provided plantation area and the condition of that is very poor and lot of stagnation was observed. Majority of the plantation area was found damaged.
5. The industry has installed 8 TPH pet cokebased boiler provided twin cyclone followed by alkali scrubber and stack of adequate height. The industry has also provided pH meter for checking the pH of water recycled in alkali scrubber and also installed SO2 meter with the stack of boiler. The emission samples of the stack was collected by this office on 20.09.2025 and concentration of SPM @ 83 mg/Nm³, which is within the permissible limit of 150 mg/Nm³ and concentration of SO2 @ 332 mg/Nm³, which is within the permissible limit of 400 mg/Nm³.
# Now, the industry has applied for renewal of consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 along with requisite documents.
# The industry has submitted compliance report of the previous consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 obtained by it and also submit the compliance of the condition no. 1 of the consent to operation that
"the Consent to Operate under the Water Act and Air Act may kindly be renewed for a further period from 21.12.2025 to 30.09.2028, as per our application on record, without insisting for installation of OCEMS right now, as it entails a heavy financial outlay, which in present situation is difficult for us or bear. As you would appreciate, In the absence of a valid consent, if any market opportunity arises to restart the plant, we would be unable to do so, leaving us with no option but to close down operations forever and terminate our staff and workers"
# The RO has concluded that the project proponent is violating the special condition and provisions of the Water (Prevention & control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; and recommended that Consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 may be refused.
In consideration of the report/ recommendations of RO; if approved, if approved, the competent authority be recommended as under:
A. The applications of the industry for grant of Consent to Operate under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974 & the Air Act, 1981 be refused, after affording an opportunity of personal hearing before the competent authority to it.
B. Notice to issue directions u/s 33-A of the Water Act, 1974 and u/s 31-A of the Air Act, 1981 be issued to the industry along with an opportunity of personal hearing before the competent authority, with the following proposed directions:
1. The industry shall take all necessary steps to close down its operations and stop forthwith discharging any effluents/ wastewater into sewer/ into storm water drain/ inland surface water/ onto land for stagnation/ irrigation or through any mode.
2. The industry shall stop forthwith discharging any effluent/ emissions from its industrial premises or through any mode.
3. The industry will immediately stop its manufacturing activities and will not restart the same unless all necessary water and air pollution control measures are taken and it obtains valid consents to operate of the Board as required under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1974.
4. The Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd. authorities shall be directed to disconnect the supply of electricity available to the industry.
5. That an environment compensation of suitable amount be imposed on the industry.
Comp.: Hon'ble Chairperson (Red/ Large) |
