Industrial units get pollution board letter of consent on the dot

S. Vydhianathan
Source: THE HINDU- Wednesday, May 10, 2006


Sector-wise approach speed up things; experts' opinion elicited


· Earlier, units had to run from pillar to post for renewal letter
· It took at least three months, even if they satisfied all conditions
· This year pollution control board sprung a surprise on them

CHENNAI: For the first time, consent renewal letters were issued to 175 of the 680 large `red' industries, for complying with the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, on the date of their expiry, March 31.

Another 179 industries, which satisfied a majority of conditions prescribed by the Board, were also given the consent renewal letter that day.

Earlier, these highly polluting big industries had to run from pillar to post from April 1 every year to get the renewal letter. It took at least three months, even if they satisfied all conditions. This year the industries were pleasantly surprised.

Sector-wise approach

According to official sources, this was made possible by adopting a sector-wise approach against the earlier district-wise approach. Services of experts, drawn from premier educational institutions and the CSIR, were utilised for giving technical advice to the industries for reducing pollution. The Board also convened a meeting of the experts where industries were asked to make a power point presentation. Based on the experts' report, the Board took a decision.

Conditional renewal

The sources said conditional renewal was given for six months (up to September 30) to 140 units.

Notices were issued to 116 units asking them why action should not be taken for not complying with standard practices to bring down the level of effluents / emission. They had not installed reverse osmosis plant or secured landfill facility for hazardous wastes and failed to improve air pollution control measures.

Notices were also issued to State thermal power plants, cement units and cooperative sugar units, Central Government undertakings such as Integral Coach Factory, Hindustan Photo films, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, Chennai Port Trust and multi-national companies.

Technical advice

The sources said the Board was ready to provide these units technical advice through its experts for achieving zero discharge. The remaining 70 units were either closed or embroiled in court cases, the sources said.

In case of `orange' units, which are less polluting, large industries, consent renewal was given to 549 out of the 742 units in the State for the next financial year.

The remaining 193 were not given the letter, as they had not paid the renewal fee. Once they paid the fee the letter would be given.

Similarly out of 58 `green' large industries, 50 units were given the renewal letter. As eight units were yet to pay the fee, the letter was not given.align="justify">