| File Note: |
It is submitted that the industry is a small-scale orange category unit and engaged in manufacturing of PVC Pipes from plastic Gitta. The industry was earlier granted Consent to Operate under Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981 vide consent no. O15BARCTOW2925194 dated 08.07.2015 valid up to 30.09.2019 and consent no. O15BARCTOA2925091 valid up 30.09.2019 for manufacturing of Plastic Pipes by using plastic gitta as raw material @ 01 TPD. Thereafter the industry has not applied for renewal of Consent to Operate under Water Act and Air Act after 30/09/2018.
To verify the facts the industry was visited by the undersigned with AEE (OS) on 11.12.2024 and it was observed as under:
1. The establishment is situated at Dhilwan road, Tapa, Tehsil Tapa, District Barnala.
2. The industry was not in operation during the visit due to off season.
3. The industry is engaged in the manufacturing of Plastic Pipe @ 01 TPD by using plastic Gitta as raw material.
4. The manufacturing process of the industry is as under: - Raw Material (Plastic Gitta) → Cutting → Mixing →Molding under controlled conditions → Hot Pipe→ Cooling with the help of re-circulated water→ cutting→ Final Product.
5. During visit, APCD was found dismantled and lying on the floor.
6. The industry has no source of trade effluent generation. Cooling water is recirculated and domestic effluent is being discharge onto land for plantation after passing through septic tank.
The industry was operating its unit without having valid consent to operate of the Board the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The industry was violating the provisions of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Notice to issue directions u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 as amended in 1987 was issued to the industry with an opportunity of personal hearing before Chief Environmental Engineer, Ludhiana on 17.01.2025.
Sh. Surinder Kumar, Proprietor of the industry attended the hearing. He stated that the factory is not in operation due to low demand. He further informed that he has applied for obtaining consents with the Board. He further stated that he has removed all the observations conveyed to the industry vide notice for hearing.
After hearing, the proprietor of the industry and officers of the Board, the Chief Environmental Engineer of the Board decided as under:
1. The Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Barnala shall visit the industry to verify its contentions and process the consent applications on merit.
2. Further action shall be taken by the Board only after obtaining receipt/recommendation from the Regional Office, Barnala.
The proceedings were conveyed to the industry for compliance of hearing decisions vide Zonal Office letter no. 842 dated 14.02.2025.
To check the compliance of the decisions made during personal hearing on 17.01.2025, the industry was visited by the officer of the Board on 27.06.2025 and it was observed as under: -
1. The industry is situated at Dhilwan road, Tapa, Tehsil Tapa, District Barnala and was in operation during the visit.
2. The manufacturing process of the industry is as under: - Raw Material (Plastic Gitta) →Grinding→ Mixing →Extruder → Hot Pipe→ Cooling with the help of re-circulated water→ Pipe (Final Product).
3. The industry has not installed any proper APCD (wet scrubber) to control process emissions. However, the industry has installed 01 cyclone separator which was not in line with the process.
4. The industry has no source of trade effluent generation. The industry has no proper arrangement for discharge of domestic effluent. The industry has provided one underground tank for collection of domestic effluent and no outlet provided for discharge of domestic effluent.
The industry is operating its unit without having valid consents to operate of the Board as required under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Thus, violating the provisions of the said Acts and is causing pollution in the area.
Accordingly, notice to issue directions u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 as amended in 1988 and u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 as amended in 1987 was issued to the industry with an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chief Environmental Engineer(B) of the Board 22/08/2025, which was postponed to 26/08/2025, due to administrative reasons.
Sh. Surinder Kumar, Proprietor of the industry attended the hearing and stated that they have already deposited consents to operate fee online, which has not yet verified. Therefore, he is unable to apply for consents to operate. He assured that he will apply the consents to operate within 7 days. He further informed that it has already installed APCD and also developed green area for the disposal of treated domestic effluent.
After hearing, the proprietor of the industry and officers of the Board, the Chief Environmental Engineer of the Board decided as under:
1. The industry shall apply for consents to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 alongwith requisite documents & consent fee within 7 days.
2. The industry shall deposit bank guarantee amounting to Rs. 25,000/- as an assurance to comply with the Environmental Laws, within 7 days.
3. The industry shall visit the help desk of Regional Office, Banrala to apply for obtaining consents to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 alongwith requisite documents & fee. He shall also obtain the performa/ format of the imposition of bank guarantee amounting to Rs. 25,000/-.
4. The Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Barnala shall visit the industry to verify its contentions and process the consent applications on merits.
5. It was made clear to the industry that if any violation under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 shall be observed by the visiting officer in future, action as deemed fit under the provisions of said Acts shall be taken without any further opportunity/ notice.
The proceedings were conveyed to the industry for compliance of hearing decisions vide Zonal Office letter no. 818 dated 01.09.2025.
In compliance of hearing decisions, the industry has deposited bank guarantee vide no. 034GT02252440005 dated 01.09.2025 amounting to Rs. 25,000/- as an assurance to comply with the Environmental Laws, which is valid upto 31.08.2026.
Now, the industry has applied for varied of consent to operate under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 on 23/01/2026 through OCCMMS under small scale orange category. The industry has informed that there is no change in manufacturing process/production expansion, no addition of land and building has been made by the industry. The only reason of applying for varied consents is that there is no option/tab displayed on Punjab Business First Portal to apply for obtaining renewal of consents and also, by proceeding through 'auto renewal' option/tab, the fee auto displayed on Board's portal showing wrong.
The industry has deposited consent fee under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 as Rs. 30,600/- vide UPI No. 000501643497223 dated 16/01/2025 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 as Rs. 30,600/- vide UPI No. 000501643332128 dated 16/01/2025, which is adequate upto 30/09/2029 as per policy of the Board, against the fixed assets value of industry i.e Rs. 21.66 lacs as shown by CA certificate dated 15/01/2025 submitted by the industry.
The industry has submitted a copy of lease deed dated 22.06.2025 in this office, which is further extended upto 04.09.2028.
The industry was visited by undersigned (Er. Manmohit Garg, AEE) on 16.01.2026 and it was observed as under:-
1. The industry is situated at Dhilwan road, Tapa, Tehsil Tapa, District Barnala and was not in operation during the visit as per low demand.
2. The manufacturing process of the industry is as under: - Raw Material (Plastic Gitta) →Grinding→ Mixing →Extruder → Hot Pipe→ Cooling with the help of re-circulated water→ Pipe (Final Product).
3. The industry has now installed any proper APCD (wet scrubber) to control process emissions and was in operationble condition.
4. The industry has no source of trade effluent generation.
5. The industry has made provision to discharge of domestic effluent into plantation area along boundary wall.
As such industry is now complying with the consent conditions as well as provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 as well as decisions of personal hearing taken by CEE(B) on 26.08.2025.
Keeping in view of above, it is therefore, recommended as under:-
1. Varied consents 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 04.09.2028 (validity of lease deed) with suitable conditions.
2. Notice issued u/s 33-A of the Water Act, 1974 and u/s 31-A of the Air Act, 1981 may be dropped, please.
Competency: CEE(B)
|
