PPCB to tighten noose on polluting units, drafts policy

According to the draft policy, an industry will be allowed to operate at its full capacity only after assessing the pollution control devices and disposal mechanism at the optimum utilisation capacity.

“The project proponent will have to submit a detailed dimensional drawing of the pollution control measures, plant actually installed, duly verified by the consultant engaged for its installation.

In case the industry is found not achieving the prescribed standards during the assessing period, it will be allowed to operate at a proportionately reduced production capacity for a limited period to prove the adequacy of the pollution control measures.

“Besides, before granting consent to operate or the clearance certificate, the industry will be visited by the officer from the concerned regional office of the PPCB whose responsibility would be to prepare a checklist

to certify that the industry has installed all the components of the pollution control equipment as per the feasibility report,” reads the draft policy.

Moreover, the board will grant ‘consent to operate/ clearance certificate’ only to those industries which have installed adequate pollution control measures as per the feasibility report submitted by the industry at the time to grant of No-Objection Certificate.

Counsel for the PPCB, Advocate A R Takkar, stated that the PPCB officers will strictly follow the instructions and if any officer is found guilty in this regard, action will be taken against him.

Adjourning the case for two weeks, the High Court has also directed the Ministry of Environment to file an affidavit explaining the steps that have been taken to fill the vacant posts in PPCB.

In case no steps have been taken in this regard, the High Court directed the ministry to file an affidavit as to why the vacant posts have not been filled. The directions were made after Takkar brought this fact to the notice of the High Court.