Only 9 industries switch over to PNG in Bahadurgarh

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, August 12

Of the 175 industrial units in Bahadurgarh town, as many as 166 have not shifted to piped natural gas (PNG), defying the directions of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The CPCB has directed factory owners to switch to PNG where its supply is available. Bahadurgarh is one such town where the PNG is available.

Taking note of the situation, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) will put the 166 units on notice.

The CPCB has been advocate the use of PNG as it helps in checking air pollution emanated from factories using the coal heating system.

The central board had, last month, directed the state pollution control boards of New Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to crack down on industries not using PNG in spite of its availability, and submit an action-taken report within two weeks.

Sources said the CPCB had also warned that action would be taken against boards for failing to submit the report within the stipulated time.

Krishan Kumar Yadav, regional officer, HSPCB, Bahadurgarh, told The Tribune that the 166 errant units were located in Modern Industrial Estate (MIE), Sectors 16 and 17 of the HSIIDC, old industrial area and Ganpati Dham locality.

“The report about erring industrial units has been sent to the higher authorities. Factory owners will be put on notice once we get the go ahead from the higher-ups,” Yadav said, adding the directions were likely to come this week.

Local industrialists, meanwhile, have demanded adequate supply of PNG before putting them on notice. Some units have cited high cost of PNG as the reason for not shifting to the clean energy, the sources said.