Rubber factory in Sonepat sealed over emission of hazardous gases

Following a complaint from residents, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has sealed a rubber reclamation factory at Mimarpur village.

During an inspection, a team of the pollution control board found violation of the pollution norms and emission of hazardous gases from the rubber unit.

According to information, the residents of Mimarpur village in the Murthal area of Sonepat had filed a complaint regarding the emission of hazardous gases from the rubber reclamation factory in the area. In his complaint to the HSPCB, a resident said the factory was emitting hazardous and toxic gases into the air, which cause difficulty in breathing, headache and irritation to people.

Following the complaint, the HSPCB team, headed by Kushagra, Assistant Environment Engineer, Sonepat region, carried out the inspection of the rubber factory on Friday midnight.

The team found that the unit was releasing obnoxious gases from the process of rubber reclamation. Rubber scrap was being used as raw material and the process was being carried out without the installation of required air pollution control devices. The emission of foul smell was causing inconvenience to the residents.

The team further found that the wet scrubber was not being maintained and operated properly. The unit has not provided any mechanism for the prevention and entrapment of fugitive emissions. Further, there were no fire detectors, sprinklers and a fire hydrant with a necessary pumping system and water storage in the process area, product and raw material storage areas.

The team in its report said the unit not only violated the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, but also created an emergent situation by releasing obnoxious gases into the atmosphere and surrounding area without adopting or installing required air pollution control devices, thus endangering the lives of people at large and other living creatures.

Hence, it became urgent need to close down the operations of the unit.

Following the report of the officials, Ajay Malik, Regional Officer (RO), issued directions to close down the operation of the rubber reclamation factory — SD Enterprises — by sealing the plant and machinery along with directions to disconnect the electricity supply immediately.

RO Ajay Malik said the closure action had been initiated against the rubber factory, on the complaint of the residents as it was violating the pollution norms.