Nine bleaching units sealed in Panipat

Tribune News Service

Panipat, February 24

A team of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has resealed nine bleaching units, which were being run illegally near the Nohra drain in the Naultha area of the district. These units had broken the seals of the HSPCB and started working again.

Bhupender Singh Chahal, regional officer, HSPCB, said, “A resident of Naultha village had filed complaint with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2015 about bleaching units being run in the Naultha area.”

On his complaint, a survey was conducted by the HSPCB and 16 bleaching units were found running in the area. It was also found that they discharged untreated trade effluent directly into the earth, which polluted agricultural land and soil water.

On the direction of the NGT, closure action has been initiated against these bleaching units. Besides, power connection had also been disconnected, he said.

The complainant again filed an application that units were still running in the area. On his rejoinder, a team of the PCB again conducted a survey in the area on Wednesday, he said.

“It came to light in the survey that nine of the 16 units sealed earlier were still being run illegally. It was found during inspection that these units broke the departmental seal and start working again,” he asserted.

“Water samples have been collected from these units and sent for laboratory testing. If they fail the test, action would be taken against the owners under various Sections of the Water Act, 1974,” he asserted.

A case would be lodged in the state environmental court in Kurukshetra against the owners of the bleaching units, Chahal maintained.