Pollution control Board slaps show-cause notice to Ultra Tech Cement
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Shimla, January 18 – Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government was virtually pushed to the wall after unilateral closure of two cement plants by Adani Cement recently in the state, now it was facing another onslaught by Ultra Tech Cement for violating Air pollution norms, which was slapped a show cause notice by state pollution control board here on Tuesday.
The Board has issued a show cause notice as to why the consent granted for closure of the cement factory for violating the standards and for running the factory should not be withdrawn. Apart from this, why not implement the environmental compensation as per the order of NGT. Member Secretary of HPSPCB Aprov Devgan said that the unit of M/s Ultratech Cement Plant, Baga was subjected to stack emission monitoring last year and it was found that after monitoring plants direction given by the pollution Officer were not complied as per the prescribed norms. Subsequently, the Regional Office of the Board issued a notice to the unit for taking corrective measures for the smooth functioning of the APCD by ensuring compliance with the environmental norms. Earlier stack emission monitoring was carried out in the unit at Cement Mill, Raw Mill and Coal Mill which were found to be above the prescribed parameters.
He added that action under various sections of the Act had been initiated against the unit for violation of stack emissions.
He said that the National Green Tribunal has ordered the State Pollution Control Boards to compensate the environmental damage caused by units violating the law. He said that the state Provided several opportunities but the unit is still not following the instructions issued.
Now Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board has sought reply from the unit within 15 days as to why punitive action should not be taken against them and compensation for environmental damages as per the directions of NGT. He said that as per the provisions of the Act, there is a provision of fine up to Rs 10,000 or imprisonment of up to seven years or both as the case may be. The spokesperson said that in another similar case, ambient air and stack emission monitoring of M/s UltraTech Cement Plant, Baga was carried out. The result of ambient ‘air and stack emissions was collected which was not in conformity with the prescribed environmental standards.
Show cause notice was issued for not complying with the prescribed norms. He said that once again the unit was inspected due to non-availability of water sprinkling system in the plant area and dust emission due to vehicular movement. Besides, sheet cover was also not provided to the coal mill area. Consequently, a show cause notice has been issued to the unit to prepare its reply within 15 days.
It is worthwhile to mention the issue of environmental standards has been raised many times by the local people in Baga. These cement plants were set up in mid eighties of last century ignoring concern of prenvironment groups now the Corporate house are showing eyes to the government on various pretext. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government have already also given similar notice to Adani Cement plants for shutdown down Bharmana and Darlaghat plants then days after new Goverment has taken charge in Himachal Pradesh. Ultra Teach and Adani Cement plants have highest production of cement in the country owing to world’s best quality lime mine in the hill state.
