| File Note: |
Subject: Proceedings of the personal hearing for refusal of 'Consent to establish' (NOC) under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 before the Chief Environmental Engineer (B) of the Board – M/s Choudhary Steel Industries, Vill. Ismailpur, Bhadhla Road, Tehsil Khanna, Distt. Ludhiana on 17/02/2026.
The following were present:
From Board's side:
Er. Kamal Singla, E.E., ZP-2, Patiala
From industry side:
Mohd. Ajeem
The officers of the Board brought out that the industry is a small-scale induction furnace unit under Orange category. The industry was earlier granted 'consent to operate' under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide no. R15LDH2CTOW2641417 dated 18/05/2015 and under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide. no. R15LDH2CTOA2641221 dated 18/05/2015, both were valid upto 30/06/2019 for manufacturing of Steel Ingots @ 72 MTD under the name and style of M/s D.H. Castings (P) Ltd. having induction furnace of capacity 6 TPH.
Thereafter, the industry was granted consent to operate under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide no. CTOW/Fresh/LDHKH/2023/22836649 dated 16/08/2023 and the Air Act, 1981 vide no. CTOA/Fresh/LDHKH/2023/22836254 dated 16/08/2023, both were valid upto 31/12/2023 subject to the suitable terms & conditions mentioned therein in the name & style of M/s Punjab Steel Alloys. The industry had availed auto renewal facility and obtained consent under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide no. CTO/Renewal/LDHKH/2023/24428521 dated 15/12/2023 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide no. CTO/Renewal/LDHKH/2023/24463212 dated 15/12/2023, both are valid upto 15/12/2028.
Now, the industry has been taken on lease by M/s Choudhary Steel Industries and has applied to obtain Consent to Establish/NOC under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 under the name and style of M/s Choudhary Steel Industries for replacement of induction furnace of capacity 6 TPH with 10 TPH for manufacturing of Steel Ingots and Billets (CCM) @ 160 MTD by using Melting Scrap, Alloy Scrap & Ferro Alloys @ 176 MTD as raw material.
While processing the case, it was observed that the industry has not clarified the following :-
1. Whether the induction furnace of capacity 6 TPH is still lying at site or removed.
2. The industry has already installed the induction furnace of capacity 10 TPH and proposed to achieve 16 heats/day with which seems unrealistic, as such, the industry is required to submit documentary proof about the capacity of induction furnace and provide calculations of production proposed, as it is a sensitive parameter and the applicability of EC depends upon this factor.
3. The industry has not submitted any comprehensive proposal for APCD covering primary and secondary emissions.
4. Whether the industry has disposed off the hazardous waste generated from Punjab Alloys to TSDF/ re-processor or still lying at site. The industry is required to submit the details and documents.
5. The industry has neither submitted any agreement/ proposal nor made details about the environmental sound disposal / reuse of hazardous waste in relevant columns of application form.
Accordingly, show cause notice for refusal of 'Consent to establish' (NOC) under the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 was issued to the industry with an opportunity of personal hearing before the Chief Environmental Engineer on 17/02/2026.
The representative of the industry attended the hearing and submitted a written reply, which was taken on record. He informed that they have purchased the unit from M/s Punjab Steel and the induction furnace of capacity 6 TPH has been replaced with 10 TPH capacity. At present, the industry is having load of 4000 KW and is in process of enhancing the same to 5000 KW, so as to achieve 16 heats per day. The industry has also executed an agreement with M/s Jogindra Castings Pvt. Ltd., Mandi Gobindgarh for lifting of APCD dust, but he was not aware about the disposal of hazardous waste generated during the operations carried out by M/s Punjab Steel. He also informed that the industry is in process of engaging PSCST, Chandigarh for providing feasibility report for secondary emissions and requested to grant the NOC.
It emerged during the hearing that the representative of the industry was neither able to justify the no. of heats to be achieved with the newly installed induction furnace nor submitted any document w.r.t. installation of secondary emissions. Moreover, it seems uncertain that the production filled in the application form can be achieved with present load available with the industry. It was also noted during the hearing that the project proponent has claimed that the site of the industry falls in industrial zone, but has not submitted any documentary proof regarding the same.
After hearing the officer of the Board and the representative of the industry, the Chief Environmental Engineer (B) decided that:
1. The industry shall submit the revised proposal to be achieved from the induction furnace of capacity 10 TPH with the available load viz-a-viz production capacity to the Regional Office of the Board.
2. The industry shall engage PSCST, Chandigarh for obtaining design of secondary emission control system within a week and shall submit feasibility report as well as Pert Chart for the installation of the same thereafter, within 15 days to the Regional Office of the Board.
3. The industry shall submit the documentary proof to acknowledge its claim to the effect that site of the industry falls in industrial zone and is suitable for establishment of induction furnace unit within a week to the Regional Office of the Board.
4. Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Fatehgarh Sahib shall visit the unit immediately to verify the disposal of hazardous waste generated during the operations carried out by M/s Punjab Steel and send the report/ recommendations alongwith compliance of the hearing decisions in annotated form, immediately, thereafter.
If approved, the proceedings may be conveyed to the industry as well as Regional Office for ensuring compliance, please.
(Competency : CEE(B)
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