Raymond's Valsad plant gets closure notice

Shuts operations after GPCB notice for violation of pollution norms

 

The textile conglomerate Raymond Ltd. has temporarily suspended operations at its textile manufacturing plant in Valsad district, after receiving a closure notice from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) for alleged violation of pollution norms.

According to GPCB officials, Raymond Ltd. was discharging untreated industrial effluent into the nearby Tithal creek.

"We have not only issued the notice but have also cut their power connection. The company will now have to give us a bank assurance for norm compliance before we revoke the closure," said KC Mistry, GPCB Incharge Member Secretary.

On its part, Raymond Ltd informed the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) that one of its textile machinery plant "at N.H. No.8, Khadki-Udwada, Taluka Pardi, District Valsad, Gujarat has received a notice of closure from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), for alleged violation of norms".

"The Company understand that similar notices have been issued to a few other manufacturing units operating in the vicinity of the Company's premises. The Company has temporarily suspended operations, at the said plant in compliance with the notice and has filed a revocation application with the concerned authorities," it said in its BSE announcement. An emailed query sent to the company remained unanswered.

The plant is believed to be manufacturing worsted suiting fabric at close to 20 million metres per annum capacity.

According to industry sources, the plant also manufactured shirting fabric of over 15 million metres per annum capacity. The company's shares fell by 1.18 per cent at Rs  322 at the day's close on Thursday on the BSE.

Diversified group of manufacturing companies, Raymond is active in textiles and apparel including worsted suiting and shirting, engineering files and tools, toilettries and prophylactics, and woven fabrics for apparel.