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Subject: Application for obtaining renewal of 'consent to operate' under the provision of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981- Railway Station Kiratpur Sahib Goods Siding Unit Railway Station Kiratpur Sahib Distt. Rupnagar.
Reference: Proceedings of the personal hearing given on 26.08.2025 before the Chairman of the Board u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 vide letter no. 4325-26 dated 08.09.2025.
The subject cited unit was given an opportunity of personal hearing before the Worthy Chairman of the Board on 26.08.2025, wherein, it was decided as under:
1. M/s ACC Limited shall immediately furnish a Bank Guarantee of Rs. 50 lakh as an assurance for continuous compliance with the prescribed environmental norms.
2. Surprise inspection shall be carried out at the site(s) by a team of officers from HQ, Patiala, headed by Er. Parveen Saluja, SEE (HQ-3) and comprising Environmental Engineers from HО, Patiala. The team shall submit a comprehensive report of their findings for further action in the matter.
3. A DO letter be issued to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Ambala for failing to attend the personal hearing and to direct the Railway authorities to address the issues pertaining to their department at the earliest.
It is submitted that in compliance to decisions of the hearing dated 26.08.2025, the industry was asked to submit bank guarantee vide this office letter no. 2083 dated 19.09.2025 but the industry has failed to furnish the same till date.
Further, the industry has been visited by Er. Parveen Saluja Sir, SEE, HQ-3 and Er. Gurjeet Kaur HQ-3, Patiala on 13.02.2026. Observations, Conclusion and Recommendations made during the visit are as under:
Observations:
Main dump site (Bhatoli).
1. The raw material yard is spread over an area of 19.5 acres. It was informed that out of the total area, 10 acres are proposed to be paved. Approximately 29% of the total area has already been paved. During the visit, construction of the sub-base for pavement was observed to be in progress at certain locations. The paving work completed so far includes:
(i) Concreting: 18,460 sqm
(ii) Paver blocks: 5,000 sqm
A copy of the plan showing the part of area paved in green colour is attached as Annexure-1.
2. During the visit, the following quantities of materials were found stored at the site:
(i) Pet Coke: 5,000 MT
(ii) Gypsum: 15,000 MT
(iii) Red Ochre/ROH Alumina: 9,000 MT
(iv) Fly Ash: Nil
3. Atyre-washing system was found operational at the site. On an average, approximately 105 trucks per day are being dispatched to ACC Gagal Cement Works, Barmana, Himachal Pradesh, located at a distance of about 65 km. A copy of the record of the operation of the wheel washer since 01.09.2025 is attached as Annexure-2.
4. Random checking of a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate of a truck was carried out, and the same was found to be valid.
5. Sixteen (16) sprinklers were observed to be operational at the site for suppression of fugitive dust
6. A tarpaulin covering station has been provided for covering trucks from the top. During the visit, no truck was observed to be dispatched without tarpaulin covering.
7. Records pertaining to daily operation and maintenance of the wheel-washing system were produced. It was informed that an expenditure of approximately 65,000/- has been incurred on the two wheel-washing systems and an invoice in this regard was obtained (Annexure-3). Further, it was informed that an expenditure of about 1.5-1.8 lakh per month (Annexure-4) is being incurred for cleaning of the tyre-washer settling tank. The sludge generated is being reused in raw material handling.
8. During the visit, sprinkler tankers were observed in operation for dust suppression. It was informed that the tankers are hired on a rental basis, and invoices in this regard were obtained.
9. A copy of the "Note for Approval" submitted by the representative of the unit was provided, as per which a capital expenditure (CAPEX) of 8 crore has been approved by the senior authorities for infrastructure development. The details of the works involved are as under:
(i) Pavement of Raw Material Yard - Rs 2.68 Crs.
(ii) Pavement of Railway Siding -Rs 3.92 Crs.
(iii) Tyre Washer, High Mast Lights & Vacuum Cleaner - Rs 1.0 Crs.
(iv) Contingency - Rs 0.4 Crs.
A copy of the note for approval is attached herewith as Annexure-5.
10. silent DG set of 25 kVA capacity has been installed at the site.
11. Mechanical road sweeping machines were observed in use for collection of road dust. Photographs in this regard were taken during the visit.
At the railway-side site
1. It was informed that coal was unloaded from railway wagons and subsequently loaded into trucks for dispatch to ACC Gagal Cement Works, Barmana. In addition, cement is also loaded into railway wagons for dispatch to other states.
2. Two (02) tyre-washing systems have been installed at the railway-side site. A spray gun system has also been provided. Seventeen (17) sprinklers were found installed along the site boundary. A tarpaulin covering station has been provided to cover trucks prior to dispatch.
3. The height of the boundary wall has been increased to more than 10 feet by installation of Gl sheets.
4. Complainant Sh. Balbir Singh (Mob. No. 99158-14800) informed that substantial works have been carried out to mitigate dust pollution at the site. In this regard, a copy of the letter addressed to Regional Office, Ropar is attached as Annexure-6.
5. An area of 1,473 sqm has been paved by the company through concreting. Additionally, approximately 1,400 sqm has been concreted by the Railway Authorities.
6. It was observed that 15-16 residential houses exist along the road adjoining the boundary wall of the railway station. The unit was advised to further increase the height of the boundary wall by installing jute curtains in front of these houses and make arrangement to wet the same to control dust emissions. The representative of the unit has accepted the proposal.
7. CCTV cameras (16 numbers) have been installed at both sites for monitoring of operations.
8. Geo tagged Photographs taken during the visit are attached as Annexure-7.
Conclusion
From the above visit, it is evident that the unit has made efforts to control the dust emissions generated during the unloading/ loading process of the various materials. However, certain improvements can be made by the units, which are given in the recommendations section.
Recommendations
1. The unit shall submit PERT chart to complete the activities of Rs. 8 crores as approved by the Higher Authorities of ACC.
2. The unit shall expedite completion of paving works in the remaining portion of the raw material yard (out of the proposed 10 acres) within a three months' time to ensure effective control of fugitive dust emissions at main dump site (Bhatoli).
3. Mechanical road sweeping shall be carried out at adequate frequency, especially along internal roads and truck movement areas, to prevent re-suspension of dust at both the sites.
4. The unit shall install jute curtains over the existing Gl-sheet boundary wall along the stretch adjoining residential houses and ensure regular wetting of the curtains, as agreed by the unit, to prevent dust dispersion towards habitation at GCWS Railway Siding.
5. Boundary sprinklers and spray guns shall be operated continuously during material handling and dispatch activities at both the sites.
6. The unit shall continue to maintain proper housekeeping and paved surfaces at both the sites.
7. CCTV surveillance shall be effectively used for monitoring compliance with dust control measures, and same shall be connected to the Board's server at both the sites.
8. Environmental Engineer, Regional Office, Ropar be directed to ensure the compliance of the aforesaid points.
Now, the occupier of the project i.e. Indian Railways from the office of Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala Cantt. (Northern Railway) has submitted application through 'consent to operate' under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 only in compliance to the Railway Board order no. 2015/EnHM/15/01 dated 16.04.2018 (attached herewith) and has failed to submit 'consent to operate' application under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. It is pertinent to mention here that the hearing was given jointly to the unit under consideration with M/s ACC Ltd., Kiratpur Sahib, Tehsil Sri Anandpur Sahib, Distt. Rupnagar as the site is jointly operated by both of them. The matter of appeal filed by M/s ACC Limited and report of the visiting team, of the said unit is being dealt with separately in enoting no. 19585625.
The industry has deposited Rs 72000/-through UTR no. SBIN323108171148 dated 18.04.2023 and Rs 72000/-through UTR no. SBIN425023423228 dated 23.01.2025 valid upto 10 years as no penalty shall be charged from Railway Authorities as per the PPCB order attached alongwith.
From above, It is clear that the industry has failed to attend the hearing and make compliance of hearing decision no. 3 and guidelines issued by the CPCB for handling and transportation of ash in an environmentally sound matter as well as failed to comply with the provisions of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, intentionally and deliberately.
In view of above facts mentioned above, it is therefore recommended as under:
1. The application of renewal of ‘CONSENT TO OPERATE' under the provision of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 may be refused.
2. Personal hearing u/s 33-A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and u/s 31-A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 may be given to M/s Railway Station Kiratpur Sahib Goods Siding Unit Railway Station Kiratpur Sahib Distt. Rupnagar through Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala Cantt. before the Competent Authority of the Board.
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