SURAT: The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), Surat has issued immediate closure notices to 11 coal storage depots located in and around the city for violating air pollution guidelines.
"These storage facilities were causing high air pollution. Huge dusting was seen during our visits," said GV Patel, in charge, regional officer, GPCB. These depots are located in areas of Sachin, Pandesara, and Palsana and some were operating from closed dyeing mills in the area.
According to the normal permissible standards of ambient air, there should not be more than 150 mg dust particles per normal meter cube (nmc). However in 100 sq meter area of these depots the dust particles were found to be much higher than the limits.
"At some places, it was more than 300 mg per nmc. This is way too high near human habitation," said Patel.
Following the action by GPCB late on Wednesday evening, many owners of these illegal depots have fled the city winding up their stocks overnight.
The storage sites that were issued immediate closure include DM Patel block, Jay Ambe Dyeing and Printing Mills block, Garuda Chemicals plot, Agarwal Coal Corporation plot and plot number 801 near station, all located in Sachin; Rani Sati Dyeing Mills Plot, Siddhivinayak Prints Pvt Ltd and Vista International plot in Pandesara; Rahul Coal plot and plot near Paras petrol pump of Palsana and a plot near Venus dyeing.
