GUWAHATI, July 16 � The Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) has directed the Brahmaputra Carbon Ltd � a calcined petroleum coke manufacturing unit located at Industrial Estate in New Bongaigaon � to stop its operation immediately as it is causing pollution in the surrounding environment.
The unit failed to install the required pollution control devices to control emission from within the stipulated time, violating provisions of existing Acts and Rules. It has been in operation without obtaining prior �consent to operate� under the Act concerned.
Moreover, the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) has been asked to discontinue power supply to the unit.
The Central Pollution Control Board had earlier observed violation of terms and conditions of the consent and provisions of EP Act & Rules, and found the industry to be running without the consent of the PCBA.
Noting that the unit has �nonchalantly violated' the provisions of pollution control laws in force causing pollution to the environment, the PCBA, while directing it to stop operation �forthwith,� asked it to enhance the stack attached to the rotary cooler to meet the required standard.
Other directives issued include reinforcement of the ladder attached to the monitoring platform of the venturi scrubber stack with proper railing to ensure safe climbing for emission monitoring besides handing over of the used oil to the registered recycler.
The unit has further been asked to obtain prior consent to operate under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and authorization certificate under the Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling and Trans-boundary Movement) Rules, 2008 from the PCBA before starting operation.
PCBA Member Secretary HK Gogoi told The Assam Tribune that the unit was found to be violating the pollution control norms over a long period of time. �It had earlier been show-caused in 2010 but it failed to take rectifying measures and comply with the relevant laws and rules despite having been allowed sufficient time,� he said.
Gogoi said that for effective monitoring and enforcement, the PCBA had recently formed an enforcement cell, which was mandated to making sudden inspections in industrial units to check and verify pollution levels. �The Board is serious about checking industrial pollution, and the Environment and Forest Minister, too, has been keen in this regard,� he added.
