Pollution board issues notice to Indora melting plant management

Rajiv Mahajan

NURPUR, MAY 26

The regional authorities of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), Kangra, issued a 15 days’ show-cause notice to the management of an induction furnace plant of Kandrori in Indora subdivision of Kanga district last evening for allegedly polluting environment. The SPCB has also directed the plant management to rectify the pollution control devices within 15 days, saying that the failure to comply with the directions would attract penal action against the plant management, including stopping of production in the unit.

RK Nadda, Superintending Engineer, SPCB, Kangra, said he had received a video clip from the Indora SDM two days back which had been sent to him by locals. In the clip, the

furnace of Sood Ispat Private Ltd, Kandrori, can be seen emitting black-coloured smoke.

Nadda, who also inspected the plant on Tuesday, told The Tribune that apart from serving the show-cause notice to the plant management, a verbal direction had also been given to it so that people living in that

area would not suffer due to air pollution.

He said if erring plant management defies guidelines/yardsticks laid down by the SPCB, action would be taken as per the provisions of water, air and environment pollution Acts.

Somil Gautam, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Indora, said he had been receiving complaints from residents of Shekhupura, Kandrori and Bhain-Attarian villages that the furnace of the plant was emitting black smoke, leading to air pollution.

He said he had taken up the issue with the regional authorities of the State Pollution Control Board for further action.

Meanwhile, Shekhupur gram panchayat pradhan Sudhir Pathania alleged that the people residing around the furnace plant had been inhaling polluted air for the past few months. If no corrective measures were taken to rectify pollution control devices, the gram panchayat would submit its resolution to the state government with a demand to shutdown the unit.