UP pollution watchdog want carbon black making unit near NH-24 in Ghaziabad shut
The board said pollutants from the factory were found to be in excess of prescribed limits and several irregularities were found during inspections
The UP pollution control board (UPPCB) has recommended stoppage of manufacturing activity at the Ghaziabad unit of Continental Carbon India Limited (CCIL), a major carbon black manufacturing unit adjacent to NH-24 in Ghaziabad.
The board said pollutants from the factory were found to be in excess of prescribed limits and several irregularities were found during inspections. The officials said they have served a notice to the officials of the unit and they have also responded. According to the CCIL officials, at least 7,000 personnel, including workers, contractual workers and other in allied activities, are dependent on the plant for their livelihood.
“The order by UPPCB was given to the officials of the unit in the presence of subdivisional magistrate and the city magistrate. The unit officials have given a written assurance that the unit will be shut within 36-48 hours as chemicals are being processed and the process cannot be stopped abruptly,” said Indu Prakash Singh, deputy collector, Ghaziabad.
According to administration officials, a showcause notice was issued to the unit on March 30 and as the reply from the company was not satisfactory, an inspection was carried out on December 10. It was found in the inspection that the unit produces an average of 230 metric tonnes of carbon black. They added that particles of carbon were also found on the floor and trees.
“The unit is not complying with prescribed norms and particulate matter 10 was found to be around around 180 micrograms per cubic metre, well in excess of standard limits,” the notice by the UPPCB said . The standard limit for PM10 is 100 micrograms per cubic metre.
However, CCIL officials said the unit has all pollution tackling measures in place and it produces nearly 15MW of electricity, which is supplied to nearly 14 nearby units. They added that the order by the UPPCB is likely to be challenged through a legal process.
“We have a completely sealed process in place at the unit. We have proper pollution measures at every step and even the product is stacked in sealed rooms. This ensures that there is no pollution to the environment,” said Avinash Matto, general manager (legal & corporate affairs), CCIL.
“Even gaseous emission happens in a closed environment and is converted to steam. From the steam, we produce electricity, which is used by us as well as other nearby factories. Our plant is 100% recycle compliant. Even our sewerage is sold to authorised persons,” he said.
According to unit officials, the plant has a sanctioned production capacity of nearly 75,000 tonnes per annum.