Another unit sealed for discharging effluents in air, water

Amritsar, July 12

Days after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed an interim penalty of Rs 1 crore and ordered the closure of an Amritsar-based manufacturer of chemical dyes, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) sealed a factory engaged in dyeing and textile finishing here.

As per provisions of the board, the sealed unit could not operate until it ensures complete compliance with the environmental norms.

Vinod Kumar, SDO, PPCB, said the unit, which was situated in the industrial area of Bal Kalan village, was violating the environmental norms. An environmental engineer of the PPCB said the unit was found not complying with the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

He said after the case was put up before the competent authority of the board, it issued directions under Sections 33-A of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and under Section 31-A of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, for sealing machinery of the industry. Accordingly machinery of the industry was sealed and it would not be allowed to operate until environmental norms are complied with, he said.

A letter was also issued to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to disconnect the electricity connection of the unit, the engineer said. Saving the environment from pollution was the first duty of the board and such activity would not be allowed at any cost, he added.