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| vacant look: The Goa carbon limited plant premises in Paradip. Telegraph picture |
Paradip, Aug. 2: The Jagatsinghpur district administration today locked up a private carbon manufacturing plant near Paradip after it defied the closure order notice issued by the state pollution control board.
Cracking whip on the industrial unit for flouting pollution norms, the board had ordered shutdown of Goa carbon plant, a unit of Goa Carbon Ltd last week. However, the plant authorities did not pay heed to the order and had been carrying out its production.
“The plant had faced charges of triggering environment pollution. The board had asked the plant management to stop its operation. But they did not abide by the order. Later, the board had sought our assistance for implementation of the order. We have locked up the plant in the presence of the local magistrate in accordance with the pollution control law,” said Paradip additional district magistrate Rama Krushna Sahu.
The company was served closure notice on July 24 as it was found that the plant perpetrated both air and water pollution on the periphery of the plant. The unit was found guilty of contravening provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
The company was asked to close down its operations and furnish a compliance report to the board. To ensure implementation of the order, the plant was shut down today with the assistance from civil, police administration and Cesu officials, said Paradip regional officer of the board Prasant Kumar Kar.
It was found dumping solid waste outside factory premises at Bhitargada near Paradip township. Besides, the plant had not put in place the pollution control mechanism to stop emission of pollutant dust particles in the air.
“The ambient air quality both in and outside the plant had deteriorated from the prescribed limit. The plant authorities were served showcause notice and were directed to put things in order. But, they had failed to initiate the corrective measures. It was given ‘reasonable’ opportunity, but the non-compliance of norms persisted,” Kar said.
Senior manager of the company P.K. Mishra said: “We are expeditiously implementing the pollution control measures as it has been directed by the board. The company is intent on safeguarding the environment safety of plant-side areas.”