Ambuja Cement directed to pay Rs 6.6L compensation for flouting green norms

In a move aimed at ensuring the compliance with green norms, the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has imposed an environmental compensation (EC) of Rs 6.6 lakh on Ambuja Cement’s Rauri plant in Darlaghat.

The compensation has been levied for a period of 22 days from December 8 to December 30 for the violation of the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

A slew of inspections conducted in the plant revealed that the plant machinery was suffering operational snags owing to lack of timely maintenance. Following the observations of the board officials, the plant halted its operations on December 11, 2024, to rectify the defects and ensure the compliance with the rules and regulations.

The EC was imposed following the directions issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to levy penalty on units violating environmental laws.

The board’s Member Secretary, Anil Joshi, issued these orders to levy EC of Rs 6.6 lakh on January 20 after it was found that the plant management had failed to rectify the defects despite repeated inspections and issuance of show-cause notices by officials.

A show-cause notice was issued on December 12 to the plant by the board’s Regional Officer at Parwanoo after the inspection revealed that air pollution was being caused due to rupture in the pre-heat duct. The unit staff had attributed the rupturing to power tripping and had consequently shut the plant.

The officials also observed that pollution was caused in the plant due to kiln tripping and pressurisation of the system, which further ruptured the pre-heater duct.

Another show-cause notice was issued on December 16 to ensure the proper operation of all air pollution control devices and control undue emissions, which trigger air pollution.

Yet another inspection conducted on December 27 revealed that the breakdown of cyclone in the plant was also causing emissions from the unit, thus contributing to environmental pollution. Even the cleaning process of the pre-heater duct was found to cause air pollution on December 15.

The plant was further issued another show-cause notice to ensure the compliance with environmental norms on December 30 and the plant management’s response was awaited.

Cement plants emit large amounts of air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and particulate matter, which can have deleterious effects on the health and the environment.

Board’s Regional Officer Anil Kumar said the plant had been shut since December 11 due to non-compliance with the norms.