Patna: The Bihar State Pollution Control Board has initiated action to close two industrial units in Darbhanga and Patna after joint inspections found serious violations related to the treatment and disposal of industrial effluent.
The inspections were conducted jointly by the State Pollution Control Board and IIT Kharagpur, which was selected as the third-party technical expert institution for the exercise.
Darbhanga Dairy Unit Faces Closure Action
The joint inspection at M/s Mithila Dugdh Utpadak Sahakari Sangh Limited in Darbhanga found that its Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) was not functioning properly.
The inspection also found that untreated effluent was being bypassed and reverse-pumped into a borewell. The Board described the practice as a serious violation.
According to the State Pollution Control Board, the findings amount to non-compliance with the conditions of the consent granted to the unit and violate provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
The Board said the violations could adversely impact the environment and has initiated necessary action to close the unit under the relevant provisions of the Act.
Patna Unit Also Found Violating Norms
A similar inspection was conducted at M/s Harilal Ventures Private Limited in the Patliputra Industrial Area, Patna.
The joint team from the State Pollution Control Board and IIT Kharagpur found that the unit’s ETP was non-operational. Untreated effluent was also found to be bypassed and discharged into a nearby drain.
The State Pollution Control Board is taking necessary action to close the unit under the relevant provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
The action is being taken in view of the reported non-compliance and to prevent adverse environmental impacts.
Annual Inspections Of Highly Polluting Industries
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi, classifies industrial units that discharge effluent with a Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) exceeding 100 kg per day and/or handle hazardous substances as highly polluting industries.
As per CPCB directives, such industries are subject to annual joint inspections by the State Pollution Control Board and a leading national technical expert institution selected by the CPCB.
Institutions eligible for such inspections include IITs, NITs, the National Sugar Institute and the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology.
During the current year’s inspection process, IIT Kharagpur was the technical expert institution involved in the joint inspections of the two units in Bihar.
