Kerala Pollution Control Board sits on Supreme Court order

Kochi: The State Pollution Control Board has failed in enforcing the Supreme Court directive that no industrial unit without proper effluent treatment plant (ETP) should be allowed to function after May 22. Though the SC order is applicable for more than 50, 000 registered units in the state - and are functioning as per Air Act and Water Act - many are still working without an ETP.
 
Closure notice was served to only 13 industrial units so far while there are hundreds of industries functioning without ETP.

"During the last six months, after the SC deadline ended on May 22, closure notices were served to only 13 units in the state of which 8 have been issued by PCB Ernakulam office to units in Eloor and Edayar. The PCB has 15 offices in the state," said top sources at PCB.

All the eight units in the Eloor industrial area made necessary changes with regard to effluent treatment and resumed operation after getting PCB's consent.

"Though inspection might be conducted in units, officials are often reluctant to issue a closure notice due to compulsion from various corners," sources added.

It was on February 22 that a Bench of Chief Justice J. S. Khehar and justices D. Y. Chandrachud and S. K. Kaul directed that industrial units might be permitted to function only if they have a proper ETP. The apex court had given three months time for complying with the directive.

Based on the order, PCB issued a general notification to all registered industrial units including the red, orange, green and white categories, instructing them to set up an ETP by May 22.