Factory sealed for releasing untreated effluents into pond
Shiv Kumar Sharma
Tribune News Service
Yamunanagar, August 10
The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), Yamunanagar, has sealed a factory after 12 cattle heads of a farmer fell ill allegedly after consuming water mixed with untreated chemical effluent of the factory.
The factory, M/S Chemocart Industries, situated at Sarawan village in Yamunanagar district, was found discharging its untreated chemical effluent into a pond reportedly made by the factory owners in an open area close to the factory.
The team of the HSPCB also took samples of the water mixed with untreated chemical effluent and sent the samples to a government laboratory for examination.
According to information, the authorities of the HSPCB, Yamunanagar, recently got information that 12 cattle heads of a farmer fell ill after consuming water mixed with chemical effluent of the factory in Sarawan village.
After getting information, Virender Singh Punia, Regional Officer of the HSPCB, Yamunanagar, immediately formed a team headed by Diksha Pandey, Scientist-B, posted at the HSPCB, Yamunanagar office, and the team conducted an inspection of the spot on August 6. As per available information, at the time of inspection, the team found that the unit had discharged its untreated chemical effluent into a pond made by the factory owners in an open area situated close to the factory.
A temporary pipeline was being used to supply the effluents into the pond. The team also found that theeffluents were getting mixed with rainwater, which was then consumed by village animals and as a result the lives of 12 animals were at risk.
The team also found that the pond water was dark brown and smelly.
“The unit was discharging untreated chemical effluent generated from its manufacturing process-residol oil and supplying it into a pond situated in an open area close to the factory. Therefore, the factory owners have violated the condition of consent to operate (CTO) granted to it,” said Virender Singh Punia, Regional Officer of the HSPCB, Yamunanagar.
He said he had passed an order to close down the operation of M/S Chemocart Industries situated at Sarawan village by sealing its plant/machinery and DG set along with disconnection of the electric supply and water supply of the said unit under the provisions of Section 33-A of the Water Act and Section 31-A of the Air Act.
“Our team sealed the machinery of this factory to close its operations on Friday,” said Virender Singh Punia. He added that the said unit was also directed to dispose of all its discharged effluent into the CETP situated in Mankapur village through closed tankers.
