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Judgment
The prayer in the application is to direct the official respondents 1 to 4 to close down the paper mills run by the 5th and 6th respondents at Ikkaraithathappalli Village, Sathyamangalam Taluk, Erode District and also to issue an order of permanent injunction against the said respondent paper mills.
The Pollution Control Board in its report dated 11th January, 2016 has stated that ''Consent to Operate'' was issued to the 5th respondent unit on 14.7.2000 to manufacture kraft paper 450 T/M and to generate trade effluent -I 92.5 KLD (on land for irrigation) trade effluent - II 100 KLD (recycled in the process after treatment. A further Consent to Operate was issued to the 5th respondent to manufacture kraft papers 1,200 T/M and to generate trade effluent - I 150 KLD (recycling to process directly) and trade effluent - II 150 KLD (recycling to process after treatment in the effluent treatment plant). The Consent to Operate was renewed in the order dated 11.7.2015 stating with the validity period up to 30.6.2016. Though the first consent was issued to the unit to utilise 92.5 KLD of the treated trade effluent on land for irrigation, the Consent to Operate was extended for expansion and that was issued to the unit to reuse the entire treated trade effluent in the process.
In so far as it relates to the 6th respondent unit which was purchased by M/s. Saradha Papers and Boards (P) Ltd., from M/s. Vaikunth Duplex Board Mills (P) Ltd., and presently operated by M/s.Senthil Papers and Board (P) Ltd., to manufacture Duplex Boards 375 T/M and to generate trade effluent 145 KLD. There was a further Consent to Operate especially for expansion of the 6th respondent unit and the Board in its proceedings 25.8.2014 has granted such ''Consent'' for expansion to manufacture coated duplex board/kraft 15125 T/M. Subsequently, Consent to Operate was issued to manufacture coated duplex board/kraft board 12521 T/M and to generate trade effluent - I 3500 KLD (recycling to process) trade effluent - II 461 KLD (recycling to process apart from trade effluent - III 39 KLD (utilized for ash quenching) by the proceedings dated 25.8.2014.
There was a telephonic complaint received on 22.8.2015 against the 5th respondent unit based on which an inspection was carried out on 22.8.2015 along with Tahsildar, Sathyamangalam and Inspector of Police, Bhavanisagar During the time of inspection, a group of public have assembled to complain about the said unit. Based on the inspection conducted on the said date, a show cause notice was issued to the 5th respondent for various violations which are as follows:
.
Violations mentioned in the SCN
Unit's reply dt.31.8.2015
dt.24.8.2015
(enclosed vide Annexure-VII)
1
The unit was having a pipeline from the
Generally we are treating the
ETP for the discharge of effluent from the
effluent at various stages in
ETP
our ETP and the treated
effluent is fully recycled in
our system itself
2
Un-treated effluent from the ETP of the
Unfortunately
due
to
unit was found discharged on land
unexpected
heavy rain
on
through the above said pipeline
21.8.2015
night,
the
rain
water drain and the rain
water harvesting
tank
got
damaged and mixed in the
ETP tank, hence over flow
occurred
3
Un-treated effluent was found stagnated
However, we are taking all
in the unit's own land in various places
necessary
steps
to operate
the ETP in still more effective
manner and assure that this
will not be repeated in future
and regret for the same
4
Sludge was found accumulated in the
The sludge was stored in the
sludge drying beds without proper
sludge drying beds for sun
disposal
drying purpose. After drying,
the same has been sent to
Board units for making paper
boards
There appears to be certain complaint given to the District Collector during the Grievance Redressal Day against the 5th respondent on the ground that they discharge untreated effluents. There was another representation received by the Board on 1.9.2015 which is by some of the public to the effect that the complaint issued against the 5th respondent was fault and a further show cause notice was issued and the District Environmental Engineer of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Perundurai has addressed a letter on 3.9.2015 to the Joint Chief Environmental Engineer, Coimbatore with a request to conduct a personal hearing with the unit and accordingly such personal enquiry was conducted on 21.9.2015 and thereafter a report was submitted along with the minutes of the personal hearing for issuance of direction for closure and disconnection of power supply.
It is stated that subsequently the District Collector, Erode has formed a Committee comprising of certain officials of the Revenue Department, apart from Police Department to inspect all the paper mills operated in Sathyaangalam Taluk. The committee is stated to have inspected various units situated in Sathyamangalam Taluk and a report was received from the said committee and certain suggestions were made which are as follows:
''i.During heavy rainy season, the industries shall take proper preventive measures to avoid flow of rain water mixed with the effluent outside the premises.
ii. The units shall provide proper storm water drains within the premises.
iii. The units shall raise the brim of the effluent treatment plant civil components
iv. The units shall avoid spillages of solid waste on the roads during transportation of ETP sludge to ''Sundry Board'' manufacturing units.
v. The industries shall inform the nearby public about the improvement works carried out in the effluent treatment plant.''
In addition to that, the 2nd respondent organised a meeting with all paper mills operated at Sathyamangalam area and instructed the units to carry out various improvement measures in the ETP area. The Board has also constituted a four member committee consisting of Dr.S. Chinnaraj, Dr.T. Meenambal, Thiru T. Pradeep and Dr.S. Selvan to inspect the 5th respondent unit. It is stated that the said committee has inspected the unit on 29.12.2015 and the report is awaited. It is also stated that the sick units which are mentioned in the said report viz., Akshera Papers, Sri Andal Paper Mills, Unit - ii, Sri Andal Paper Mills, Sri Andal Paper & Boards, Sri Vaikunth Papers & Board, and Saradha Papers & Board are the kraft paper industries situated in the area recycling the untreated/treated effluent in the paper manufacturing process. In addition to that, six printing paper industries viz., Aaditiya Aswin Paper Mills, Karthikeya Paper & Board, Sri Venkatramana Paper Mills, Sripathi Papers & Board, Sri Sakthi Papers India and Karthikeya Paper Mills are reusing 75% of the treated trade effluent in the process and utilising 25% of the treated trade effluent on land for growing trees.
In respect of the inspection conducted in the 6th respondent unit, based on the inspection conducted certain instructions were issued to the units for improvement in the ETP for which the units have replied. The inspection and reply given by the 6th respondent are stated by the Board as follows:
Sl No
Instructions issued to the unit Dt.4.9.2015
Units reply dt.12.9.2015
1
Sludge belt press area to be developed to avoid sludge spillage and mixing with wate
Construction of barrier wall and columns foundation for roofing of sludge press area under progress
2
Gear box problem in the sludge thickner shall be rectified immediately to improve sludge thickening
Assembling of gear box after repairing work is done, shall be fixed and put in operation within 3 days period
3
The ETP operators shall have a system to enter the failure/problems in the operations of ETP so that immediate attention is given by the top level management people to address the defects
Separate log book is being maintained and al relevant data are entered for operation and maintenance activities, which is being reviewed by top management or regular basis, to take immediate remedial actions
4
All the datas of the ETP operation including maintenance issues shall be entered in the log book immediately
Separate log book is being maintained and all relevant data are entered for operation and maintenance activities
5
The scrapper mechanism in the chemical sludge thickner shall be rectified immediately
Scrapper mechanism of the chemical sludge thickener repairing work will be completed within two days shall be put in operation
6
Roofed shed shall be provided for the storage of sludge without access for rain water
Fabrication of structures is under progress and foundation footings construction under progress
7
The flow in the primary clarifier was not maintained properly as per the design
The operation procedure is modified and the maximum flow of 167 cu.mt/hour of flow to primary clarifier is ensured
8
The accumulated sludge in the old sludge drying beds shall be disposed off immediately
Sludge accumulated in old sludge drying beds is being sold lout and demolishing the old unused sludge drying beds is under progress
9
The quantity of fresh water intake for the process, recycling of treated effluent in the process water consumed for domestic uses etc., shall be entered in the log books properly
Separate log book is being maintained and readings are entered on daily basis
10
ETP power consumption, chemical consumption details shall be entered in the log book
Separate log book is being maintained and readings are entered on regular basis
11
DAF stand by pump shall be erected immediately
Foundation of the pump base construction under progress
12
Flexible houses found near the collection tank shall be removed immediately
All the flexible houses are removed already from ETP premises
13
Flexible hoses shall not be used in the operation of ETP
Noted, hence forth we will not use any flexible hoses in operation of ETP
14
Effluent stagnation with waste plastic near the drum screen area shall be avoided
Necessary modification works done in drum screen area to avoid stagnation of effluent and waste plastic
15
Waste plastic collected shall be disposed to cement industry for beneficial uses
Being done to ensure safety in DAF area
16
Proper safety arrangements shall be provided at DAF
Being done to ensure safety in DAF area
17
DO meter shall be provided at the aeration tank
To procure DO meter, quotations are obtained and PO releasing is under progress, copy of quotation is enclosed
18
The overall housekeeping of the ETP area shall be improved
Separate team for day to day housekeeping and gardening is being deployed
19
The unit shall ensure zero discharge of effluent
We ensure the zero liquid discharge system from our plant operation
20
All the pipe lines provided for the discharge of untreated/treated effluent if any in the premises shall be removed immediately
All the unwanted pipe lines are removed
21
The unit shall install CCTV in ETP area, the nearby odai, and same shall be connected to internet immediately
Obtaining the quote for installation of CCTV system isunder progress
22
The unit's operations shall not attract pubic complaint
We will ensure that jour plant operation will not attract the public complaint
23
The units shall take proper preventive measures to avoid discharge/flow of effluent during rainy season
We will ensure the same
24
The unit shall operate the ETP efficiently and continuously so as to achieve the standards prescribed by the board
We are operating the ETP efficiently and achieving the standards prescribed by TNPCB
25
The unit shall furnish the production details effluent generation detail, effluent recycled in the process, sludge generated & disposed, plastic generated & disposed power consumed in the o0peration of the ETP to this office fortnightly
On fortnight basis we will lbe submitting the letter with all data required
It is stated that the Board is regularly monitoring the river water quality at various locations of river Bhavani and the water samples are being collected and analysed which reveals that the parameters are meeting the standards prescribed by the Board. It is also stated that the paper industries operated in Sathyaangalam area which are narrated above are regularly monitored by the officials of the District Environmental Engineer, Perundurai
In view of the actions which are being taken by the Board regularly, we are of the view that the impleadment of the other 10 paper units, apart from 5th and 6th respondents which are already on record, is not necessary and will not serve any purpose .
However, we make it very clear that the Board, as assured in the status report, shall continue to monitor all the units at close intervals and satisfy about the compliance of all pollution norms. In the event the Board is satisfied that any of the units have not complied with the said directions issued by the Board, the Board shall immediately take action in accordance with law under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
With the above direction the application stands disposed of. There shall be no order as to cost.