Check air pollution control devices in U'khand: NGT to USPCB

Heeding a plea to check air pollution from industries in Uttarakhand, the National Green Tribunal today directed the State Pollution Control Board (USPCB) to inspect all air pollution control devices installed in iron and steel units in Jasodharpur Industrial Area (JIA) near Kotdwar.
A bench headed by Justice U D Salvi directed USPCB to look into the efficacy of air pollution control devices and the electrical interlocking devices installed at these units.
"We direct Uttarakhand State Pollution Control Board to check all these devices installed in respect all the units and report back to us on the next date of hearing," the bench said.

The matter is now listed for next hearing on September 16.
The bench also directed these industrial units to submit an year-wise data regarding annual production of each units, slag produced and disposed from these units.
It also asked these units to place before the tribunal if there was any "commercial" demand for this slag.
"The District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of the District Kotdwar shall report about the steps taken by them for removal of the slag dumped in the river or river bed," the tribunal said.
This came after the counsel for industrial units submitted that commercial exploitation of slag was feasible for manufacturing of cement and bricks.