Lack of uniformity in pollution control norms and an online mechanism to monitor the polluting units is hurting the Indian foundry industry, Nithyanandan Devaraaj, Chairman – Southern Region, The Institute of Indian Foundrymen (IIF), said here today.

Throwing light on some of the issues faced by the industry, he said “we face a lot of problems with the Pollution Control Board. First, there is no uniformity in norms across the country. The Foundry Development Council meets regularly to discuss such issues and represent the same to the powers that be. We have sought for fixation of licensing period based on the unit’s adherence to pollution control norms. At present, the units have to renew the licence every year. This is quite a task,” he said. Online monitoring

“Emission levels are monitored online in Chennai, but this should be extended to other places,” he said.

“At this juncture, we are only looking for support for modernisation of the industry. Some allocation on the lines of TUF (Technology Upgradation Fund) scheme (for textile industry) would go a long way in giving the much-needed impetus to the industry,” he said.

“To drive GDP growth, the industry would need $3 billion in investment to meet the growing demand of both – the domestic industry and exports,” CR Swaminathan, Chairman of the 64{+t}{+h} IFC (Indian Foundry Congress) Organising Committee said.

‘Make in India’ impact Further, stating that if the ‘Make in India’ programme fructifies, it would give the foundry industry a definite drive, Swaminathan said. “But, we are yet to see the impact. The manufacturing sector has not seen any growth for two consecutive quarters and no one is able to say when things would look up. That we are suffering is real.”

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