CAG report finds public sector units in TN flouting pollution norms

A large number of government-run units in Tamil Nadu are flouting pollution control norms or operating without clearance from the Pollution Control Board, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

In its report for 2013-14, the CAG studied PSUs in cement, sugar, mining, State Transport Undertakings and Sipcot, an industrial development company.

The report pointed out that the transport companies, two cement units in Ariyalur and Alangulam, and vermiculite plant of Tamin, the mining company, did not have TNPCB consent to operate these units; emission and gaseous discharges from cement and graphite units exceeded pollution limits; a sugar company discharged effluents into inhabited areas; and Sipcot failed to prevent industrial units within its industrial estates from discharging hazardous effluents into neighbouring areas.

Transport The audit between April and July 2014 found that out of the total 291 units associated with state transports about 55 per cent (161 units) were in operation without TNPCB’s consent and 67 per cent (196 units) were handling hazardous waste such as used oil, oil rags, acid residues and sludge without TNPCB authorisation.

After this was pointed out 86 units obtained the consent to operate and 32 units got the clearance to handle hazardous waste as of November 2014, the report said.

The vermiculite plant had not applied for consent to operate during the entire audit period from 2009 to 2014, the CAG said.

The audit found that unit-wise data on validity or renewal of consent orders were not available and the TNPCB allowed the PSUs to continue to operate without complying with statutory requirements.

Two sugar companies – TASCO and PSM – tested were also found to be discharging untreated effluents. PSM had not set right its effluent treatment plant in the last four years up to 2014 and it had also stored 8,218 tonnes of molasses in an open pit for more than 18 years. The molasses had solidified and became unfit for use and the reasons for not disposing it are not available on record, the report said.

Sipcot The report also found that industrial units and tanneries in Ranipet industrial estate also did not meet pollution control norms. Of the 150 tanneries there, 103 used the Central Effluent Treatment Plants in the estate.

The effluent treatment plants were not being operated efficiently. The State-run Sipcot which is responsible for maintaining the industrial estate, had not taken steps to comply with the prescribed norms.

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