Board stops permission to set up new industries at Barhi

In a major setback to industrial development, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has stopped giving permission to new industries, especially water polluting units at the industrial estate maintained by the Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HSIIDC) at Barhi in Ganaur of Sonepat district.

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Notably, a joint committee of the HSPCB and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) revealed recently that untreated effluent was being discharged directly in drain No. 6 which leads to Yamuna due to incapable common effluent treatment plant (CETP) of the HSIIDC at Barhi.

As per sources, there were over 700 industrial units in Barhi of which around 236 industrial were registered with the HSPCB. The pollution board gave consent to operate (CTO) and consent to establishment (CTE) to these industrial units.

To treat effluent discharged from these industrial units, the HSIIDC established two 10 million litre per day (MLD) and 16 MLD capacity CETPs. The treated effluent of these CETPs is discharged into drain No. 6.

During an inspection by a joint team of the HSPCB and the CPCB, it was found that both the CETPs were be properly functional. A report in this regard was submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) recently. As per report, 10 MLD CETP was operating at less than 40 per cent of its designed capacity while 16 MLD CETP was operating at around 85 per cent of its capacity. Both the CETPs were non-compliant with the established norms.

The report revealed that industrial units were discharging their effluents through storm water pipes as their primary effluent treatment plants (PETPs) were not properly operated.

Pradeep Singh, Regional Officer, HSPCB, said permission to operate water polluting industries at Barhi was stopped as the two CETPs, which were maintained by the HSIIDC, were functioning below their designated capacity. Even samples of these CETPs failed the laboratory test recently, he said.

“Several notices have been served and even environmental compensation (EC) has been imposed on the HSIIDC due to non-compliance of norms by the CETPs,” he added.