PPCB raids find sugar mills defy pollution norms

Surprise raids of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) at sugar mills have found the Chadha Group-owned sugar mill flouting the pollution norms by creating water pollution.

Total six sugar mills of the state namely AB Sugar Mills, Dasua, Indian Sucrose Limited Mukerian, Chadha Sugar & Industries Private Limited, Wahid Sugar Mills, Phagwara, Patran Sugar Mills, Patran and Bhagwanpur Sugar Mills, Dhuri, were inspected by the PPCB teams headed by senior environmental engineers on Friday and Saturday.

PPCB chairman Ravinder Singh said AB Sugar Mills, Dausa, was found bypassing the effluent treatment plant, whereas Chaddha Sugar & Industries Private Limited, Kiri Afghana (Gurdaspur), was not operating its effluent treatment plant.

The aeration tank of Wahid Sugar Mills, Phagwara, was in poor condition. The PPCB chairman said, "The Patran Sugar Mills was lying closed. The process to penalise the erring mills is being initiated under the provisions of the Water Act, 1974."

He also said necessary action was being taken against the mills that were found violating certain pollution control measures during surprise inspection made by the PPCB teams on Friday.
Ironically, AB Sugar Mills and Chadha Sugar Mills for second time were found violating the pollution norms.

PPCB is also contemplating the move to punish the officers concerned of the area for failing to check pollution by the mills, said officials.