SPCB orders closure of three PPL units

Paradeep, Oct 6 (UNI) The State Pollution Control Board has directed the Paradeep Phosphate Limited (PPL) to close down its three plants before October 10 to check the pollution of the waters of adjacent Atharbanki creek caused following discharge of untreated toxic effluents from the fertilizer plant .

The SPCB has threatened to seal the PPL plant if the authorities failed to carry out the order within the stipulated period, official sources said.

The PPL has been asked to close down the Phosphoric acid plant, Sulphuric acid plant and Diammonia phosphate pant under Section-5 of Environment Protection Act,1965.

The directives were issued after the SPCB found the PPL violating the direction in wastewater discharge treatment resulting water pollution in nearby creek affecting the eco-system besides causing health hazard.

The water bodies are polluted due to the chemical effluents, discharged by the PPL. The SPCB earlier sent notices to the PPL to take necessary steps to check the discharge of toxic effluents to the nearby creeks but the PPL failed to take any steps in this regard, the SPCB sources said.

The Pollution Board has intimated the matter to the district administration of Jagatsinghpur about the closure notice. The action of the SPCB came in the wake of complaint lodged by the local people.

Acting on their complaint, the SPCB officials inspected the premises and nearby areas of Paradip Phosphates and found the discharge of untreated toxic effluents from the fertilizer plant entering into the water bodies.

UNI XC-DP PC RN1938