GPCB issues fresh notices to GIDC over pollution

“About a month ago,we had issued similar notices to the GIDC estates at these two places. But,the notices had little impact on those managing the industrial estates. Now that we have again issued notices (a couple of days ago) to the estates,with a clear direction to the GIDC managing director,we expect the situation to improve there,” said a senior GPCB official here on Thursday.

The official told Newsline that some pharma and chemical units located in the Vapi GIDC estate have been blatantly flouting pollution laws and causing water pollution. Some multi-national companies like United Phosphorous,Cheminova and Hikal in the Ankleshwar GIDC estate are responsible for air pollution,the official added.

Confirming the development,Principal Secretary (Forests and Environment) S K Nanda said the GPCB (working under his department) has issued the notices and directed officials to take corrective measures within two months.

“We have instructed those managing the GIDC estates to enhance the present effluent carrying capacity of pipelines. About

80 MLD (million litres per day) of industrial waste flows through a pipeline at Vapi as against its designed capacity of 60 MLD,while 65 MLD of effluent flows through the Ankleshwar pipeline against its capacity of 40 MLD,” he said.

Nanda said during his recent visit to both the industrial estates,he had found that the stations that pump effluent from individual treatment plants into the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) were not working properly.

Untreated industrial waste is being released into the Amla and Dill creeks by the Ankleshwar and Vapi GIDC estates. Not only this,several industries located in the Vapi GIDC estates have been releasing untreated effluent directly into the Dill creek.