Himachal: Pollution Control Board issues show cause notices for violation of environmental norms
Himachal: Pollution Control Board issues show cause notices for violation of environmental norms
SHIMLA: A spokesperson of the HP State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB)informed here today that the board has issued show cause notices under theprovision of Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 to UltratechCement Plant, Baga in district Solan for violation of pollution norms.
He said that stack emission monitoring of the unit of M/s UltratechCement Plant, Baga was conducted last year, and it was found that the resultsof stack emission monitoring are not conforming to the prescribed standards.Thereafter, the regional office of HPSPCB issued notices to the unit to takecorrective measures for smooth operation of APCDs to ensure compliance ofenvironment standards”, he said.Earlier, the results of stack emission monitoring of the unit was carriedout at cement mill, raw mill and coal mill and found above the prescribednorms, he said adding that action was initiated under various sections of the Actfor violation of stack emission against the unit as well.The National Green Tribunal (NGT) have directed SPCBs to levy andrecover environment compensation from violating units, said the spokesperson,adding that the state gave several opportunities, but the unit was still notcomplying with the directions issued.Now the HPSPCB has sought reply from the unit within 15 days as to whypenal action should not be initiated against the unit and why environmentalcompensation should not be imposed as per the directions of the NGT, said thespokesperson.He said that the provisions of the Act attract fine up to Rs. 10,000 andimprisonment up to seven years or both, as the case may be.
Yet in another case of its type, ambient air and stack emissionmonitoring of M/s Ultratech Cement Plant, Baga was conducted to checkemissions. The result of ambient air and stack emission was collected, whichwas not conforming to prescribed environmental standards. A show causenotice was issued for the non-compliance on the shortcomings. He said that theunit was once again inspected for not arranging water sprinkling system in theplant area and dust emission was observed due to vehicle movement. Besides,the sheet cover to the coal mill area was also not provided. As a result a showcause notice has been issued to frame its reply within 15 days, said thespokesperson.