BSPCB Slaps Rs10 Lakh Fine on Ahluwalia Contracts for Patna Air Pollution Violation

Patna: The Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) has taken stringent action to combat rising air pollution in Patna, imposing an environmental compensation of approximately Rs10 lakh on M/s Ahluwalia Contracts (India) Limited, a prominent construction company.

In an official statement released by the BSPCB, it was disclosed that the hefty fine was levied on M/s Ahluwalia Contracts due to its involvement in causing air pollution during construction activities at the Bihar Veterinary College campus. The construction firm’s batching plant at the Veterinary Campus is now subject to a compensation of Rs 10,08,900. Additionally, a “Statutory Proposed Closure Direction” has been issued to the unit.

Ahluwalia Contracts (India) is working on a project for construction of new buildings at Animal Science University or Bihar Veterinary college campus at Patna utilsing an estimated outlay of Rs.890 crore. The contract for the project was awarded in the year 2021.

The air quality situation in Bihar is steadily worsening with the onset of wintry weather conditions. According to the BSPCB statement, the chief secretary is overseeing the monitoring of air pollution in the state, in compliance with recent directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT). In response to these directives, four teams have been formed to pinpoint highly polluted sites within Patna.

The BSPCB has implemented various measures to improve air quality, particularly in the Pataliputra Industrial Area. Industrial units, previously reliant on coal or furnace oil, have been instructed to transition to piped natural gas (PNG) where available. Closure notices have already been dispatched to three units within the past month, and eight others have been strongly urged to make the switch to PNG promptly, with a looming threat of closure for non-compliance.