KOCHI: The State Pollution Control Board has confiscated Rs 24 lakh, the bank guarantee furnished by Sree Sakthi Paper Mills at Edayar for removing the huge quantity of plastic and other non-biodegradable waste piled up at the company’s site along the banks of the River Periyar. It is for the first time that the PCB is seizing the bank guarantee furnished by any industrial unit for pollution mitigation measures. The industrial unit, which has been asked to close down for violating pollution control norms, had submitted '24 lakh as a bank guarantee while submitting the request for renewing its licence in 2015. As the industrial unit was continuing to violate norms, the PCB didn’t renew its licence and operation of the unit was completely stopped last June.
Meanwhile, green groups approached the National Green Tribunal seeking immediate measures against polluting units in Eloor and Edayar following which the Tribunal asked the PCB to take appropriate action against the paper mill. “Though confiscating bank guarantee of several polluting companies was recommended in the past, the PCB used to ignore such recommendations. But in the case of Sree Sakthi Paper Mills, it is the NGT’s directive which forced the PCB to seize the amount,” said Adv. K.K Ashkar, who appeared for the green group Janajagrutha in the case. Earlier, the Southern Bench of NGT directed the petitioner’s counsel to make a representation to the State PCB to take appropriate action against the paper mill for removal of plastic waste.
If the industrial unit failed to remove it, the municipal authorities should dispose the garbage and realise the amount from the bank guarantee furnished by the paper mill. After the NGT order, the money was handed over to the PCB environmental engineer, which will be used for clearing the waste. “A meeting of various stakeholders including local body representatives, police and green activists will be convened soon to discuss how to effectively use the funds,” said M.P Thrideep Kumar, environmental engineer PCB.
