| File Note: |
The report/ recommendations of RO in the matter has been examined and it was noted as under:
# The industry earlier obtained renewal of CTOs under the Water Act, 1974 and the Air Act, 1981 both dated 29/07/2021 & having validity upto 31/01/2026, for manufacturing of various automobile parts, subject to certain suitable conditions as mentioned therein.
# Now, the project proponent has applied for obtaining renewal of consent to operate under the provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
# The industry was visited by the AEE of RO on 21.02.2026 and observed
as under:
1. The industry was in operation and was engaged in the process of manufacturing of tractor parts.
2. The industry has provided powder coating booths which are provided with cyclone separator as APCD and stack of adequate height.
3. The industry has also provided one no. paint booth which is provided with water curtain with APCD and stack of adequate height.
4. The industry has provided fabrication machinery like power presses, welding, cutting and other machining machinery.
5. The industry is also involved in the process of phosphating and has provided ETP based on physiochemical treatment to treat the effluent generated from the process. During visit, the ETP was not in operation. The representative informed that the ETP is batch type and operated as and when the effluent is received from phosphating area.
6. The industry has installed the flow meter at the inlet of the ETP as well as on borewells.
7. The industry has maintained the record for the fresh water consumption and for the treatment of the trade effluent.
8. The industry is disposing its domestic effluent onto sewer connected to the terminal STP of Mohali.
9. The industry has provided the hazardous waste room at site and hazardous wastes namely Spent oil, ETP sludge, Phosphating sludge and Paint booth sludge is stored in the same.
10. The industry is maintaining the record of the hazardous waste lifting in terms of manifest with last lifting in the Month of January 2026.
# The AEE, RO concluded that the project proponent is found complying with the provisions of Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and recommended that renewal of consent to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 be granted upto 31.01.2031.
# Thereafter, the EE, RO had sought certain clarifications from AEE, RO, to which the AEE, RO had replied as under:
“The clarification has been sought from the industry regarding the increase in the assets and the industry submitted that their fixed assets increased From Rs.1404.2 Laksh to Rs. 2118.07 lakhs, due to replacement of old machinery with the new machines and Maintenance work. There is no increase in the production capacity of the Unit. The Production remain the same. Further, the industry has installed the ETP and during the submission of the agenda, the ETP has been misspelled as STP. The industry has not installed STP at site and the entire wastewater disposed onto MC sewer. The industry has installed a batch type ETP with components namely Reaction tank- cum- clarifier and dual media filter. Further, the industry is maintaining the record of ETP. As per record, the ETP is operated intermittently with last operation on 19.02.2026 with treatment of 02 KLD of effluent.”
# Afterwards, the EE, RO cited that the industry has increased its plant and machinery from 7 crores to 11 crores but has failed to submit the proper details for the increase in the plant and machinery; and revisited the industrial unit on 25.02.2026. The EE, RO reported that the industry was carrying out phosphating process and the effluent from the same is discharged into sewer after treatment in the ETP. The ETP consists of only collection tank, clarifier and dual media filter which does not seems to be adequate. The ETP was not in operation at the time of visit. Later on, the representative has informed that they operate the ETP in the evening for 02 hours. The operator of the ETP fails to inform the operation of the ETP and also failed to show the chemicals used in the operation of the ETP. Thereafter, the ETP was made operational by the industry. The effluent samples from the outlet of the ETP and from the tank prior to dual media filter were collected and has been sent to Head Office Lab for analysis whose results are awaited. Further, it was also observed that the industry was operating its paint booth. However, the water curtain were not working. A lot of emissions were also observed in the premises/shed because of welding and other processes.
# The EE, RO has recommended that consent to operate under the Water Act, 1974 and Air Act, 1981 may be refused, please.
It is worth to mention here that as per Board’s officer order no. 270 dated 16/06/2026, wherein it is mentioned as under:
“While carrying out the inspections/visits by the inspecting officers and staff of the Regional Offices/Zonal Offices & Head Office for monitoring of industrial establishments, other than the inspections/visit carried out for specific purposes like applications for СТЕ & СТО, Closure Directions, Revocations etc. in their area of jurisdiction, no officer/team shall visit/inspect the same establishment twice consecutively except in specific cases or in case of specific instructions from Competent Authority.”
However, in the present case the unit has been visited twice by the officers of RO twice, in violation of the said office order.
In consideration of the above facts; if approved, the competent authority be recommended as under:
A. The applications of the industry for renewal of consents to operate under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 be refused after affording an opportunity of personal hearing before the competent authority.
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 for taking stringent action against the violating unit.
C. An explanation be sought from the Environmental Engineer, SAS Nagar for giving reasons for carrying out visit to the unit consecutively on 25.02.2026 while the unit was already visited by the Asst. Env. Engg. of the RO on 21.02.2026.
Competency: Hon’ble Chairperson of the Board (Red, Large with Project cost above 15 cr.) |
