Industrial units in NCR demand more time to shift to other fuel

Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 20

The ban on the use of furnace oil and petroleum coke in the industries located in the national capital region (NCR) has affected agricultural machinery manufacturing units, mink blanket manufacturers and others using both fuels in the district.

Industrialists are demanding more time to make changes in their units to comply with the order of the Supreme Court, which has banned the use of these fuels from November 1.

“The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has already issued directions to these industries to comply with the order,” says Virender Punia, SDO, HSPCB.

More than 25 industries manufacturing agricultural machinery and seven manufacturing mink blanket in Karnal, which falls in the NCR, are in dismay with the immediate ban on the fuels. These industries have been providing employment to over 3,000 workers with production turnover of around Rs 500 crore per annum.

Some of them have already started shifting to other fuel, while a few have shut production.

“We urge the Supreme Court to give us some more time to comply with the orders as it is not possible in short time to shift to other fuel. It is costly as well as time consuming,” says Manoj Arora, president, Karnal Haryana State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation Industrial Association.

“Production has become costly and we are facing challenges from neighbouring states,” he adds.

“Karnal is well known for agricultural machinery items. Around 80 per cent requirement of components used in agricultural machinery in the country is met from Karnal,” says Som Sachdeva, secretary, Karnal Agriculture Implement Manufacturers’ Association (KAIMA).

“We are running units with the consent of the HSPCB and meeting emission parameters by empoying requisite pollution control devices,” says Ranbir Arora, advisor, KAIMA.

“With their meagre sources, units using furnace oil cannot opt to move out of the NCR or switch over to the alternate mode of fuel like electricity,” says Bhavuk Mehta, secretary, KAIMA.