HC stay order on PPL closure

The Orissa High Court has granted a stay order on the closure notice served by the Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) on Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL), thus the saving the plant being shut down from October 10.

It may be recalled that OSPCB had served a notice to PPL on October 3 asking for closure of its three units- phosphoric acid plant, sulphuric acid plant and diammonium phosphate plant by 8 pm on October 10 as the board felt that the three units of PPL were violating pollution norms.

The Orissa High Court gave a stay order on the OSPCB notice on October 10 and the hearing of the case has been deferred till October 16.

The stay order of the High Court has given a big relief to thousands of employees engaged in the three units of PPL and has also assured supply of fertilisers to the state as well as other parts of the country, which was threatened amidst fear of a possible shutdown of the three units.