 "Visa Steel unit gets closure notice")
The Odisha State Pollution Control Board has slapped a closure direction on Visa Steel’s ferro alloys plant and the direct-reduced iron (DRI) unit at Kalinganagar in Jajpur district for failure to conform to air and water pollution norms.
The pollution board has revoked the consent to operate given to both the manufacturing units till the company takes adequate measures to comply with the norms.
Notice has been issued by the board under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Section 31A of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The board has instructed the company to intimate the date of halting of operations of the ferro alloys plant and the DRI unit. Failure to comply might lead to legal action, the board observed in its notice.
The closure direction by the pollution watchdog follows a showcause notice issued in September this year after inspection of the sponge iron-based integrated steel plant and ferro alloys facilities. Though the company replied to the notice, asking for a lenient stand from the board, its response was found to be unsatisfactory. In the course of its inspections, the board found gross deficiencies and defects in the environment management system.
Visa Steel officials were not immediately available for comment on the closure notice.
The watchdog found heavy fugitive dust emission from the ferro alloys furnaces, thereby causing extensive air pollution in the area. Pneumatic dust handling system installed at the bag filters was not working properly. Besides this, the raw materials like chrome ore fines and lumpy chrome ore, coke and quartzite were stored in an open area without impervious flooring and roof cover.
The facility of water washing of iron ore in DRI plant was being operated without obtaining approval of the board. The washouts containing tailings were found to be accumulated in the work zone area, leading into a storm water drain. Moreover, no air pollution control devices were provided for control of emissions during tapping in blast furnace.
Following the company’s non-compliances, the board has now called for a time-bound action plan to furnish a comprehensive scheme for management and treatment of surface run off and process effluent generated from all the process areas, bring the solid waste dumping area into a proper shape, repair the existing internal roads and install dust extraction system.
