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A. It is intimated that the industry is small scale red category unit and it is engaged in the manufacturing of dry lead acid batteries.
B. Earlier, the industry was visited by the officer of the Board on 06.02.2023 and it was observed that the industry was in operation during visit and is engaged in the manufacturing of battery in the name of brand Korite. The industry was installed one melting furnace to melt the lead ingots and no hood has been provided to contain the emission. The industry has provided a plate charging room and no suction system/APCD in charging room is provided for containing the acid emissions. The industry is running its unit without obtaining consent to operate under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
C. Accordingly, show cause notice for violation of the provisions of Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981was issued to the industry with opportunity of personal hearing before Senior Environmental Engineer, Zonal Office-2, Ludhiana on 23.08.2023 wherein it was decided as that action for issuing notice u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 shall be initiated against the industry for its closure with an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chief Environmental Engineer, Ludhiana.
D. Accordingly, notice u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 was issued to the industry with an opportunity of personal hearing before Chief Environmental Engineer, Ludhiana on 04.10.2023, wherein it was decided as under:-
1. Proposed directions u/s 31-A of the Air Act, 1981 be confirmed for closure of the industry and disconnection of electric supply available to the premises of the industry by PSPCL authorities.
2. Regional Office to seal the DG set(s) if any effective implementation of directions and report compliance of the direction issued.
E. Accordingly, direction u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 was issued vide Board’s letter no. 7486-89 dated 27.10.2023 for disconnection of the electric supply of the industry alongwith sealing of D.G. set.
F. Thereafter, the industry has applied for consent to operate under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and under Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, which were granted upto 14/03/2024 alongwith temporarily restoration of electric connection upto 13.09.2024.
G. Thereafter the industry has applied for consent to operate under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and under Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, which were granted upto 12.09.2025 alongwith temporarily restoration of electric connection for manufacturing of Dry Lead Acid Batteries @ 22 Numbers/Day Lead Plates/Jali @ 2400Numbers/Day by installing One Lead Melting Furnace alongwith Water Scrubber as APCD and One DG set with capacity 40 KVA and for discharge of domestic effluent @ 0.8 KLD into sewer.
H. Now, the industry has applied for obtaining consent to operate under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 through OCMMS for manufacturing of Dry Lead Acid Batteries @ 22 Numbers/Day Lead Plates/Jali @ 2400Numbers/Day by installing One Lead Melting Furnace alongwith Water Scrubber as APCD and One DG set with capacity 80 KVA and for discharge of domestic effluent @ 0.8 KLD into sewer.
I. The industry has deposited consents fee of Rs. 9,900/- (Rs. 8,800/- under the Water Act, 1974 & Rs. 1,100/- as NOC regularization fee) vide R.no. 568175344 dated 03.02.2024 and Rs. 15,900/- (Rs. 8,800/- under the Air Act, 1981, Rs. 3,300/- late fee each acts & Rs. 500/- form fee), which is adequate upto 15.01.2029 against gross value of fixed assets Rs. 3.75 Lacs and plant & machinery Rs. 3.18 Lacs as on 29.11.2025.
J. The industry was visited by the officer of this office on 09.01.2026 and it was observed as under: -
1. The industry was not in operation during the visit.
2. The industry has provided one bhatti, one melting pot, one mixture, pasting section for flat plate batteries. All the above section are equipped with individual suction hood which is further connected with the common water scrubber as APCD along with the adequate stack height.
3. The industry has provided one mixer cum vibrator for tubular battery which is equipped with inbuilt bag filter house followed by common water scrubber as APCD along with adequate stack height.
4. The industry has provided 02 numbers sealing machines for assembly of batteries.
5. The industry has provided one charging station which is connected to the common water scrubber as APCD.
6. The common water scrubber is provided with separate energy meter. The industry is maintaining its record daily basis.
7. It is pertinent to mentioned here that the stack emission sample could not be collected due to the industry is not operating at full strength from last two years as informed by the industry representative.
8. The industry has provided one DG set of capacity 40 KVA equipped with canopy.
9. There is no generation of trade effluent and only domestic effluent is being discharged into sewer.
10. The industry has submitted DTP certificate vide no. 2778 dated 14.11.2023 mentioning that the site of the industry falls in industrial zone.
11. The industry has submitted that it has applied for obtaining EPR under Battery waste Rules, 2022, which is yet pending with CPCB. The industry attached screenshot of the same.
In view of above, if approved, it is recommended as under: -
1. Electric connection of the industry may be restored permanently.
2. Consent to operate under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 may be granted to the industry upto 30.06.2028 with suitable conditions as per policy of the Board and special conditions as under: -
a. The industry shall register under the EPR portal as per the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022.
b. The industry shall submit its operational schedule and air emission analysis report from Board’s Lab within 02 months.
c. The industry shall obtain authorization under HWM Rules 2016, within 01 month.
Competency to restore the electric supply: Hon’ble Chairperson
Competency to Grant CTO: SEE
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