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Court’s directive to pollution control board

BHUBANESWAR: The appellate authority chaired by High Court judge Justice B. P Das on Saturday directed the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) to respond to a petition that questioned revocation of closure notice slapped against two polluting sponge iron plants in Sundargarh.

Justice Das was hearing petitions filed by Shankar Oram, a former legislator, who charged that despite two sponge iron plants were yet to comply corrective measures prescribed to check pollutions, SPCB official decided to revoke closure notice.

The two units were Bhaskar Steel and Ferro Alloy Ltd and Agrasen Sponge (P) Ltd.

While issuing notice of closing down of two sponge iron plants, SPCB had pointed out several defects that were causing pollutions.

But before two plants installed pollution preventing devices, the pollution control board came out with a direction that they were revoking the closure order by virtue of their commitment to remove defects and deposit of bank guarantee.

“Officials allowed the plants without plugging the pollution defects. This is illegal to allow polluting plants to run by virtue of commitment only. Pollution control board officials for obvious reasons found ways to revoke the closure notice,” said Bibhu Prasad Tripathy, counsel of Mr. Oram.

Moreover, revocation orders were issued anticipating that Chairman of the SPCB would approve the bank guarantee submitted by the polluting units. Mr. Tripathy said these two units were yet to fulfil their commitment made during obtaining consent. Pneumatic dust handling system at Electro Static Precipitators and full-length roads inside the plants were yet to be completed, he added.

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