CPCB shuts four industrial units for polluting Ganga

Acting tough on industrial units polluting the Ganga, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has closed down four industrial enterprises as part of its monitoring the 500-km stretch of the river between Kannauj and Varanasi.

Out of the 26 industrial units inspected by the central pollution watchdog, seven were found closed, two were found complying with discharge standards, nine required minor improvements, while four issued directions for closure. One unit has been issued a showcause notice for closure as there was no room for quick improvement in meeting discharge standards. The remaining three units have been asked to take remedial action.

This is for the first time that CPCB has invoked Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which empowers it to issue such directions. “So far, the central pollution watchdog has depended exclusively on issuing directives to the state pollution control boards under Section 18 of the Water Act, 1974,” the board said in a statement.

Currently, the sewage treatment capacity of 1.025 billion litres a day is available against about 3 billion litres a day being generated in the towns along Ganga.

Moreover, CPCB is also setting up a dedicated division for monitoring and controlling pollution in the river as part of the programmes of the National Ganga River Basin Authority headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

To ensure a clean Ganga, the board will start inspecting around 402 tanneries in Kanpur that are connected to common effluent treatment plant in the stretch between Kannauj and Varanasi.

Besides, 600-700 industrial enterprises are also discharging effluents into the drains and tributaries which flow into the Ganga.