Taking a tough stand against the polluting industries, the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has served closure notice against two sponge iron units. These two units are Shiv Metalicks Private Ltd in Sundergarh district and Sree Metaliks Ltd in Keonjhar district.
The action has been under section 21 and 31A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
OSPCB has revoked the consent to operate permission granted to these units citing non-compliance of its direction pertaining to control of pollution.
“We have asked two polluting sponge iron units to stop operations and more sponge iron units are under scanner”, Bhagirathi Behera, director (environment) of the Orissa government told Business Standard.
Sources said, the problem of emission by Shiv Metalicks was observed by the regional officer of the OSPCB located at Rourkela during his visit to the sponge iron unit.
While there were public complains about pollution by Shiv Metalicks, the concentration of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the ambient air quality measured near cooler discharge area was found to be far exceeding the prescribed standards of the board.
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Similarly, the board officials from regional office located at Keonjhar observed that ESP attached with kiln number 7 of Sree Metaliks wasn’t operating despite the rotary kiln being in normal order. The total untreated flue gas was escaping to the atmosphere through the emergency cap of ABC stack.
Moreover, the board officials observed serious non-compliance to the consent conditions in February this year, contrary to the submission made by the company during a personal hearing earlier.
Based on the report of the team of OSPCB officials, the board has revoked the consent to operate the unit, sources added.