Pollution board serves notice to 22 units in Panipat

The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has served closure notices to 22 sites, including industries, a bank and construction sites in the district, for the violation of norms under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-2).

With the dipping temperature, the air quality index (AQI) of the textile city has also started deteriorating. On Friday, the AQI was 343, which is very poor. As per the CPCB, the main pollutants in the air were recorded at severe levels – the PM 2.5 was maximum at 399 while the PM10 was a maximum of 401 in the district.

Apart from this, as the AQI has deteriorated badly in the national capital region (NCR), the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented the ban orders under GRAP-3 from Thursday onwards.

The HSPCB has launched a special drive in the district after the CAQM implemented the GRAP. The teams of HSPCB found a total of seven construction sites in the HSIIDC and on the NH-44 which were not registered on the HSPCB’s dust portal.

During the inspection, the HSPCB found several violations, like these were not registered on the dust portal, had not installed the PM 2.5 and PM 10 sensors, not installed anti-smog gun, building material was not covered at the site, dust masks were not provided to workers etc.

Following the violations, the HSPCB has served closure directions to all these sites and also initiated the proceedings for the levying of environmental compensation (EC) on these violators.

Apart from the construction sites, the operation of diesel generator sets had been banned in the NCR by the CAQM. But, the teams found these operational in 13 institutions – 12 industries in industrial sectors 29 part-1 and part-2, old industrial area and sector 25 part-1 and part 2 and a bank in the city. The teams sealed the sets on the spot and issued closure notices to the units.

Two dyeing units in sector-29 part-2 were found emitting black smoke, which is reportedly violating the pollution norms under the GRAP and polluted air. These units have been sealed and closure notices have also been served to these units.

Bhupender Singh Chahal, Regional Officer (RO), HSPCB, said that closure notices had been served to 22 institutions – 13 units for using diesel generator (DG) sets despite ban orders, two units for emitting black smoke and seven construction sites for violating the norms under GRAP orders.

Apart from this, proceedings have been initiated against these non-complying units for the prosecution and levying of the Environmental Compensation (EC), said RO Chahal.