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Closure notice to paper mill for causing pollution in Kerala

Paper mill at Edayar fails to comply PCB norms.

Kochi: As the polluting Sree Sakthi paper mill at Edayar has failed to comply with the instructions within the stipulated time, the State Pollution Control Board has again served a closure notice on the unit.

After a joint inspection carried out by the PCB officials and the people’s committee on May 9, the PCB had issued time-bound instructions to implement the pollution mitigation recommendations.

However, the company failed to comply with the instructions following which the PCB slapped it with the closure notice. Serious violations were found during the inspection despite the directions issued by the PCB.

The order as per Section 33 A of the Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act and Section 31A of the Air (prevention and control of pollution) Act was issued late on Tuesday evening.

According to the closure notice, the company had failed to comply with most of the 11-point recommendations issued by the board. However, after the directive was given, no direct effluent discharge was identified. Some of the other directives also have been partially complied with, said the PCB.

If the company fails to comply with the closure notice, the Board will instruct KSEB to cut the power supply. Meanwhile, Mr Purushan Eloor, activist of Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi, alleged that the PCB had deliberately delayed issuing the closure notice to help the company.

“The PCB has tried to sabotage the decision and help the company authorities in getting the decision relaxed. They sent the closure notice by post. A meeting attended by the representatives of PCB officials, Eloor municipality, green activists and other people’s representatives had decided to issue the closure notice,” he said.

The PCB has also served notice to Kalamassery municipality for not taking steps to prevent Periyar pollution through toxic discharge from Thoombunkal canal. As many as 13 fish kills have been reported from the Eloor – Edayar industrial belt this year.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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