Pointing out that the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NERI) had found high levels of air pollution in and around the industrial areas, he added that the organisation had also said that though electrostatic precipitators (ESP) were installed in almost all plants with capacity of 100 tones per day (TPD), they did not have separate electric meters to ascertain whether these were functional.

However, Siltara Sponge Iron Units Association president Anil Nachrani said,”as compared to previous years, the situation has improved with almost all industrial units having capacity of 100 TPD installing Electrostatic precipitators (ESP). Plants with lesser capacity are not required to have ESP as per the rules”.

Governor E S L Narasimhan has been monitoring the problem for over a year and his visit to Siltara industrial area found non-functional pollution control equipment. As the agitation continues, Chief Minister Raman Singh has also decided to convene a meeting of the agitators and industrialists to find a solution to the problem.