Serious violations at Hamirpur plant: NGT

A joint committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has identified significant environmental violations at the ACC Cement plant owned by Adani Cements in Barmana, Hamirpur district. The committee submitted its detailed findings to the NGT on January 24. Led by Abhishek Garg, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, the committee found multiple breaches in pollution control measures mandated by the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB).

The investigation was prompted by a complaint from Kashmir Singh Thakur, a local resident, who reported that the dust control equipment at the ACC plant was malfunctioning, leading to dust accumulation in the air, on roads, and in surrounding areas, adversely affecting public health and the environment.

The committee’s report highlighted three major issues: failure to implement a three-layer tree plantation around the plant’s boundary; poor truck tyre washing systems, contributing to the spread of dust and dirt; and inadequate treatment of recycled water and failure to remove oil and grease from the water.

In response to these violations, the NGT has scheduled a hearing on February 25, where the authorities of the cement plant will be called to ensure compliance with environmental protection measures. Given the recurring violations, the NGT is expected to adopt a stricter approach to enforce environmental compliance at the plant.

It is notable that in 2022, the Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board had imposed a fine of over Rs 1 crore on the cement plant for environmental norm violations.

Abhishek Garg, the SDM of Bilaspur, confirmed that significant discrepancies were observed during the committee’s inspection of the plant earlier this month. He mentioned that these findings would be submitted to the NGT for further action and emphasised the need for urgent steps to protect the local environment.