The Aryavarth Express
Agency (New Delhi): The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has established a ‘Standard Protocol for Conducting Inspections, Report Preparation and Action’ to address environmental non-compliance by industries. This move, aimed at safeguarding the environment, outlines a systematic approach for action against violators in accordance with the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Under this protocol, industries found with minor non-compliances are first issued a show-cause notice, providing them an opportunity to rectify the issues. However, in cases of gross non-compliance, where the violations pose a significant threat to the environment, closure directions are issued directly under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Examples of such severe violations include bypass discharge of untreated effluent, injection of water into groundwater (reverse boring), operation with defunct or without necessary pollution control devices, and unauthorized disposal of hazardous waste.
Since 2020, the CPCB has inspected 215 industrial units, with 83 found to be non-compliant with environmental norms. Out of these, seven units were directly issued closure directions without a prior show-cause notice due to the severity of their violations. All seven units, which include dairy, dye, paper, pharmaceutical, and sugar industries, have since complied with the prescribed environmental norms, leading to the revocation of the closure directions.
Additionally, State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) are authorized to issue show-cause notices or closure directions for violations of consent conditions under the Water Act, 1974, and the Air Act, 1981.
The CPCB has also formed a committee, comprising representatives from the CPCB and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), to review and recommend the revocation or withdrawal of closure directions. This committee assesses compliance submissions from industries, and revocation is issued by the CPCB based on its recommendations.
Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey provided this information in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. The implementation of this protocol is a significant step in India’s efforts to enforce environmental regulations and promote sustainable industrial practices.