PPCB to move court against polluting units

The PPCB had earlier issued an order for closure and disconnection of power supply to around 23 industrial units for violating norms and functioning illegally. A dozen such illegal units are still functioning and Powercom is yet to disconnect their power supply.

After a meeting between superintendent engineer SP Garg and PPCB member Baba Bulbir Singh Seechewal here,the power board ‘s SDOs were directed to visit all the 23 units and file the status report before October 31.

If the units are found functioning then the PPCB would move court both against the firms and the Powercom,sources said.

Garg confirmed fixing the deadline and plans for legal action against the firms not complying with the PPCB orders.

“These 23 units had been sending the effluent to Ludhiana’s Effluent Treatment Plant (LETP) for the past few months,but there are many other violations committed by these units. Till the time the Site Appraisal Committee clears their cases,such units cannot function,” said Garg.

It may be noted that earlier also,the PPCB had found that some 19 industrial units had been functioning illegally for years (some since 2006) and the Powercom had failed to disconnect their power supply despite orders from the PPCB.

The PPCB had even written a letter to the Powercom asking it to comply with its orders,issued long back.