Skip to main content

Gujarat industry's puny understanding of pollution control: Plea to 'pardon' from laws

Vapi industries effluent dumping into Damanganga river
Counterview Desk
Taking strong exception to the Vapi Industries Association (VIA) letter dated May 18, 2020, addressed to the chairman, Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) seeking exemption environmental laws, senior state environmentalists have said the VIA demand is “ludicrous”, adding, it shows “audacity and righteousness” to “pollute the environs.”
“Such attitude raises many questions about the environmental concerns and the stance adopted by the concerned departments”, say Rohit Prajapati and Krishnakant of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti, Vadodara in a representation to senior officials of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and GPCB.
“We not only register our strongest objections against relaxations demanded by VIA, but also sternly demand that associations such as these be penalized for even making such requisitions, thereby wasting time and energy, such that no other organisations dare to request such exemptions”, the representation says.

Text:

We, as active environment activists, would like to bring to your attention the key concerns regarding the Vapi Industries Association’s (VIA) letter vide VIA/2020-21/0437, dated May 18, 2020, to the Chairman of GPCB, copy to Industries Commissioner of Gujarat and the Collector of Valsad District asking for exemption with respect to the implementation of the present environment laws and notifications regarding treatment and disposal of industrial effluent.
The audacity exhibited by Vapi Industries Association through the letter is something that responsible entities would even refrain from discussing verbally, leave alone putting it on paper. This impudence raises many concerns about the stance of concerned departments regarding environmental issues and pollution.
We are truly shocked that even after Order, dated February 22, 2017, of the Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 375 of 2012 (Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti & Anrs V/s Union of India & Ors) and National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, Delhi, Order, dated August 3, 2018, August 28, 2019 in Original Application No. 593 of 2017, (Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti & Anrs V/s Union of India & Ors), the VIA is able to openly demand de-facto not to implement these orders and further violate the present environment laws.
This raises fundamental questions regarding the present laissez-faire situation of the concerned authorities with regards to the implementation of the courts orders and the environment laws, whereby industrial association are transparently, boldly able to demand:
“As stated above there is a shortage of adequate skilled ETP personnel and that may cause non compliance in discharge norms. … also in respect of finally treated water, air emission and hazardous waste management norms, as well as in handling of plastic waste under Rule 9.”
An obvious question that arises is about the functioning of the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) and Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) of individual industries.
The letter further states:
“Presently if any sample of treated waste water, taken from the outlet of the Industries Members fail to meet the discharge norms for various parameters like COD etc. or any other lapses in comply with the environmental norms, the industries members are penalized heavily by giving closure to the defaulting units. This not only causes monetary losses to the unit but they also lose valuable customers and the supply chain gets destroyed.
"Considering the present market condition we propose that instead of directly giving closure to any defaulting units the authorities should levy heavy financial penalty to Industries defaulting for the first time. Any Industries defaulting for the second time may be punished with heavier penalty.
"Thereafter if any industries default for the third time, closure or any other harsh punishment may be slapped on them.”
 
This makes it very clear that it is not just about the CETP but also about the ETP’s of the individual industries.
Demand does not stop here but at the end VIA even makes it very clear:
“Lastly, as per the present norm any Industries Members setting up a new unit or going for expansion of the present unit within an industrial estate needs to do an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and submit the report to central authorities. In this regard we wish to inform you that EIA is an expensive process and cost not less than Rs. 5-7 lakh which is unaffordable for small units.
“In this regard we wish to state that the Industrial Estates like Vapi has already done the EIA for their CETP and the Industries Members are situated within 5 KMs radius of CETP only and discharging compulsorily in the underground drainage line of CETP only.
“We therefore propose to abolish the norm of getting individual EIA studies done for Industries situated within an Industrial Estate and discharging their treated waste water through CETP. Instead EIA report of the concerned CETP of that Industrial Estate should be submitted for establishment of new units or expansion of existing units of the concerned industrial estate.”

For justification, VIA states:
“We feel the above amendments and relaxation in the existing norms will give a strong opportunity to the Industries Members to rejuvenate themselves to turn around and start generating sustainable growth again which eventually contributes to the national GDP.”
These statements expose the Industry Association’s puny understanding about the natural resources and environment. It is quite shameful that such insincere and shallow industries are able to pressurise the government as well as the concerned authorities under the farce of economic hardship and growth.
It would be even more appalling if the government accepts their demand. For both, it is long overdue to realise and act upon the fact that economic growth achieved without environmental protection and restoration is short lived and very costly in the long run.
Demands such as these amounts to an attempt to water down our well thought out laws for the benefit of polluters. The accountability suggested in the letter is to be kept within fellow industrialists, all friends among themselves.
The report of their own CETP is to replace environment public hearing and Environment Impact Assessments (EIA) notification, 2006. If there is no labour to treat their industrial effluent, then where do they get labour to run their industry that generates effluent?
The surrounding villages and their helpless residents pay the heavy price in terms of health and livelihood options. The industries are supposed to be and upheld as job generators. They look good only on paper. The defaulting polluting industries make profits by degrading both, the environment and human dignity.
We not only register our strongest objections against relaxations demanded by the VIA, but also sternly demand that associations such as these be penalized for even making such requisitions, thereby wasting time and energy, such that no other organisations dare to request such exemptions.
We expect your prompt and positive response in the interest of life, livelihoods, and environment. No timely response from your side may prompt us to take further steps.

Comments

TRENDING

Insider plot to kill Deendayal Upadhyay? What RSS pracharak Balraj Madhok said

By Shamsul Islam*  Balraj Madhok's died on May 2, 2016 ending an era of old guards of Hindutva politics. A senior RSS pracharak till his death was paid handsome tributes by the RSS leaders including PM Modi, himself a senior pracharak, for being a "stalwart leader of Jan Sangh. Balraj Madhok ji's ideological commitment was strong and clarity of thought immense. He was selflessly devoted to the nation and society. I had the good fortune of interacting with Balraj Madhok ji on many occasions". The RSS also issued a formal condolence message signed by the Supremo Mohan Bhagwat on behalf of all swayamsevaks, referring to his contribution of commitment to nation and society. He was a leading RSS pracharak on whom his organization relied for initiating prominent Hindutva projects. But today nobody in the RSS-BJP top hierarchy remembers/talks about Madhok as he was an insider chronicler of the immense degeneration which was spreading as an epidemic in the high echelons of th

Central pollution watchdog sees red in Union ministry labelling waste to energy green

By Chythenyen Devika Kulasekaran*  “Destructors”, “incinerators” and “waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration” all mean the same thing – indiscriminate burning of garbage! Having a history of about one and a half centuries, WTE incinerators have seen several reboots over the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. 

First-of-its-kind? 'Eco-friendly, low cost' sewage treatment system installed in Gujarat

Counterview Desk Following the installation of the Unconventional Decentralized Multi-Stage Reactor (UDMSR) for sewage treatment, a note on what is claimed to be the  first-of-its-kind technology said, the treated sewage from this system “can be directly utilized for agricultural purposes”, even as proving to be a “saviour in the times of water crisis.”

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Indo-Bangla border: Farmers facing 'illegal obstacles' in harvesting, transporting yields

  Counterview Desk  In a representation to the chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, human rights defender Kirity Roy, who is secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), has said that Border Security Force (BSF) personnel are creating "illegal obstacles" for farmers seeking to harvest their ripened yields and transport them to the market in village Jhaukuthi of Cooch Behar district.

'Flawed' argument: Gandhi had minimal role, naval mutinies alone led to Independence

Counterview Desk Reacting to a Counterview  story , "Rewiring history? Bose, not Gandhi, was real Father of Nation: British PM Attlee 'cited'" (January 26, 2016), an avid reader has forwarded  reaction  in the form of a  link , which carries the article "Did Atlee say Gandhi had minimal role in Independence? #FactCheck", published in the site satyagrahis.in. The satyagraha.in article seeks to debunk the view, reported in the Counterview story, taken by retired army officer GD Bakshi in his book, “Bose: An Indian Samurai”, which claims that Gandhiji had a minimal role to play in India's freedom struggle, and that it was Netaji who played the crucial role. We reproduce the satyagraha.in article here. Text: Nowadays it is said by many MK Gandhi critics that Clement Atlee made a statement in which he said Gandhi has ‘minimal’ role in India's independence and gave credit to naval mutinies and with this statement, they concluded the whole freedom struggle.

Wasteland, a colonial legacy, being used to 'give away' vast tracts to Ratnagiri refinery

By Fouziya Tehzeeb* William D’Souza, a 55-year old farmer from Kuthethur, Mangalore, was busy mixing cattle feed when we arrived at his doorsteps. Around 25 km from the bustling city of Mangalore, Kuthethur is a lush green village with thick vegetation. On the way to William’s house the idyllic view gets blocked by the flares and smoke arising from the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL).

CAA disregards India's inclusive plural ethos, 'betrays' ideals of freedom struggle: PUCL

Counterview Desk    "Outraged" at the move of the Central government to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA 2019) weeks before the election, the top rights group, People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), has demanded that the law be repealed. 

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Invincible, Modi 'taller' than BJP, RSS: An opportunity for Congress beyond 2024?

By NS Venkataraman*  With the announcement of poll schedule for the 2024 parliamentary election, there is palpable excitement and expectation amongst the countrymen  about the shape of things to happen in India after the  results of the election would be announced. There is also speculation abroad about the future course of developments in India.