LI Network
Published on: 28 July 2023 at 09:45 IST
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) based in New Delhi has taken action on a plea lodged against Birla Carbon India Private Limited, alleging a breach of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 in Renukoot, Uttar Pradesh.
The bench, comprising of Acting Chairperson Sheo Kumar Singh, Judicial Member Arun Kumar Tyagi, and Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel, recognized the significance of the environmental concerns raised in the plea. Consequently, they constituted a committee, which will include the Collector of Renukoot, Uttar Pradesh, and a representative from the State Pollution Control Board.
The committee has been entrusted with the task of visiting the site in question and submitting a factual report on the situation within four weeks.
The report is to be sent via e-mail at judicialngt@gov.in, preferably in a searchable PDF/OCR Support PDF format rather than an Image PDF.
The committee’s report should explicitly address the compliance status regarding the Consent to Operate (CTO) granted on January 30, 2019, along with any additional manufacturing processes.
Furthermore, the bench emphasized that the report should also include ambient air quality data obtained from the vicinity of the industry and trends of ambient air quality as per the established National Air Quality Monitoring Program (NAMP) station, if in operation.
The grievance raised in the application presented to the NGT was focused on Birla Carbon Renukoot’s alleged violation of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
It was claimed that the unit was functioning without any consent from UPPCB (Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board) and had failed to seek consent for the operation of 6 Reactor, Vent Scrubber Stacks, and 2 Main Bag Filter Stacks. Additionally, crucial details regarding the height of these stacks were not disclosed during the consent process.
It was also alleged that the Reactor, Vent Scrubber, and Main Bag Filter Stacks were utilized during plant shutdowns and contained un-burnt carbon monoxide as a byproduct.
The NGT took note of the fact that a complaint had previously been filed with the concerned authorities and the Pollution Control Board, but no action had been taken in response.
As a result, the NGT directed the Registry to furnish a copy of the order and the application to the Collector of Renukoot, Uttar Pradesh, and the State Pollution Control Board to ensure appropriate action is taken and a report is submitted.
The case has been scheduled for further proceedings on October 31, 2023, as titled – Pankaj Srivastava v. Birla Carbon India Private Limited.