NGT disposes of IOCL appeal against pollution board notice

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, July 9

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has disposed of an appeal of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) against a show-cause notice for the revocation of consent to operate served by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. It has directed the HSPCB to pass a reasoned order within two weeks on the issue.

According to information, the IOCL moved an appeal against the HSPCB notice issued on January 8.

The HSPCB had issued a show-cause notice for the revocation of consent to operate on January 8 on the basis of the reports of the committee of experts in compliance with the order of the tribunal on a complaint by Satpal Singh, sarpanch of Singhpura-Sithna village in the district.

Villagers living in the vicinity of the refinery, led by Satpal Singh, took up the issue with the NGT last year, alleging that it was polluting air and water. On their complaint, the NGT had constituted a special team comprising the Deputy Commissioner, officers of the HSPCB and the CPCB to check the situation.

The inspecting team had observed that the effluent scheme used for online monitoring may not be the same as the final outlet of the effluent treatment plant (ETP), the ambient air quality was poor, untreated effluents were found discharged in the green belt, non-compliance with the condition of zero liquid discharge and groundwater samples did not comply with the prescribed norms.

The unit was not operating the ETP efficiently and was not complying with the conditions of recycling and reuse of treated water.

On the basis of the experts committee reports, the tribunal had on May 10 imposed Rs 17.31 crore interim cost on the IOCL for causing pollution and directed it to deposit the amount with the CPCB as interim compensation for the restoration of the environment.

Besides, the tribunal had directed the HSPCB to pass a reasoned order on the show-cause notice served by it on the IOCL on May 27.

Bhupender Singh Chahal, Regional Officer, HSPCB, said that the tribunal on Thursday last disposed of the appeal of the IOCL and we would comply with the tribunal’s order.

The issue

• Villagers in the vicinity of the refinery took up the issue with the NGT last year, alleging  that it was polluting air and water
• The NGT had constituted a special team to check the situation
• On the basis of the team’s reports, the tribunal had imposed Rs 17.31 crore interim cost on the IOCL for causing pollution