Pollution board serves closure notices on 7 Panipat units

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has issued show-cause notices to initiate closure and legal action against seven industrial units in Kurar area for allegedly discharging untreated effluent into drain no. 2 through tractor-tankers. The notices have been served under Section 33-A of the Water (Prevention and Control), Act.

The CM Flying Squad had unearthed the nexus of industrialists and tractor owners involved in discharging effluent of factories into the drain at night. A raid had been conducted on November 20 and 13 tractor-tankers were seized and 12 drivers booked.

During preliminary investigation, the drivers revealed that the tractor owners had 'deputed' their tractors in factories at Kurar, Chhajpur and Jalalpur, and they were assigned to bring untreated effluent and discharge it into the drain. The drivers also revealed the names of the industries.

SI Raj Singh of the squad complained to the Sanoli police and the police registered a case against 27 people, including seven industrial units.

A team of the HSPCB collected samples from tankers as well as from the factories named by the drivers. The samples were sent to a laboratory for testing.

The HSPCB has also served a show-cause notice for closure under Section 33-A for violation of Section 25 and prosecution under Section 44 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act to all seven units.

The Regional Officer (RO), HSPCB, Panipat, said in the notices that the units had violated the terms and conditions of consent to operate (CTO) granted to them by the pollution board.

The HSPCB team also sought a reply from the unit concerned within three days as to why closure and legal action against the unit may not be initiated, along with the imposition of the environmental compensation (EC) under Section 33-A for non-compliance of norms.

Kuldeep Singh, Assistant Environment Engineer, HSPCB, said notices had been issued to all seven units for violating norms. Action would be initiated after receiving the sample reports and reply from the units, he added.