SC asks government, CPCB to fix emission standards of harmful gases

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Central government and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to fix emission standards of sulphur oxide and dioxide, and nitrogen oxide for industries using pet coke and furnace oil.

The bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta said that emission norms should be in place by June 30 and the industry would comply with it by December 3.

The emission standard norms would not affect the petroleum oil refineries and the cement industry. In all there are 35 categories of different industries that are using pet coke or furnace oil further industrial operations.

The emission standards would affect the industry spread over 48,000 square km of area covering the national capital and the towns and cities of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan comprising the National Capital Region, said senior counsel Vijay Panjwani representing CPCB.

The industries to be affected include paper, cotton textiles, composite woollen mills, dye and and leather amongst others.

Allowing both the government and the CPCB to approach it in "case of some difficulty", the court said that while preparing the emission norms, industry representatives too would be consulted.

The court said that industry would take necessary steps to comply with the emission standards to be set by the government and the CPCB.

The court order came as it was told that Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan have said that would abide by the top court order if it bans the use of pet coke and furnace oil.

--IANS

pk/vd