Bhubaneswar, Feb. 27: The Odisha State Pollution Control Board has imposed a fine of Rs 13.77 crore on Hirakud-based Hindalco Limited for unauthorised sale of anode butts containing fluoride, a highly polluting material, from its smelter.

Board member-secretary Siddhant Das said the unit had been asked to pay the fine within a month. Anode butts containing fluoride are generated in the process of making aluminium and hence categorised as hazardous.

The management, handling and transportation of such material is covered under the Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2008, framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. “They are supposed to follow a protocol for disposing of anode butts. The unit should have sought our permission or that of the central pollution control board for the purpose,” said Das.

However, the unit, Das said, had sold away 11,500 tonnes of anode butts without seeking the board’s permission. It had been issued showcause notice in last September and given an opportunity to place its case before the board.

The board, after going through the records and the depositions made by the Hindalco authorities, decided to impose the penalty of Rs 13.77 crore in tune with the “Polluter Pays” principle as there had been violation of environmental laws.

A major row erupted following the board’s claim that two firms from Dhanbad and Vishakhapatnam had bought some of the anode butts from the plant by using forged letters. Under the Hazardous Waste (Management Handling and Trans-boundary Movement) Rules, 2008, only those units, which are authorised by the board, can buy anode butts from aluminium smelters. However, in this case the two buyers from Vishakhapatnam and Dhanbad, who did not have any authorisation from the board, produced fake authorisation papers with forged signatures of Das to procure the material.

Sources said the board had taken a tough stand in the matter as it wanted industrial units to follow the environmental norms strictly. Violation of pollution norms by industries is a matter of growing concern with the focus almost invariably on the sponge iron units, which are now being dealt with strictly. “But, that does not mean that we are ignoring pollution in other industries. Wherever there is violation we will act,” said an official.

Company’s Bhubaneswar-based joint president (corporate affairs) Rabindra Mishra said: “I am not aware of the development.”