Aurangabad: The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has served closure notice to three industries in the Waluj industrial zone for violating environment norms. It has also directed the authorities concerned to disconnect water and electricity supply to these industries.
The Aurangabad division of the MPCB issued directives to Pooja Engineering, Dhanlaxmi Enterprises and SAR Industries in Waluj MIDC on Friday to stop manufacturing activities with immediate effect.
D B Patil, regional officer in the MPCB, said when the board officials visited SAR Industries, it was found that the unit was operating without its consent.
The MPCB's closure notice stated, "The unit neither provided any treatment facility for effluent generating from the plating section nor sent it to the common effluent treatment plant. The traces of effluent discharged were observed outside the factory premises on the back side."
"The unit had not installed any air pollution control system at the plating section, which has also created problems in the surrounding area," Patil said.
"Considering all these factors, it can be concluded that the unit is violating the provisions of various environmental enactments and damaging the surrounding environment. The board thereby directs your unit to stop manufacturing activities to avoid further damage to the environment," stated the notice.
Similar closure notices were also issued to Pooja Engineering and Dhanlaxmi Enterprises. "These two units too were operating without obtaining consent from the board, were not providing effluent treatment plant and air pollution control system," Patil said.
However, the owner of SAR Industries, VipinSonawane, said his unit is already closed and has been given on rent to other industry. "The MPCB visited the unit and found some irregularities. But we already stopped our manufacturing activities long ago," he said.
Despite repeated attempts, the officials of Pooja Engineering and Dhanlaxmi Enterprises could not be reached for comments on the issue.
Last month, the MPCB had cracked whip on five industrial units for violating green norms. The board had issued closure notices to three units, of which two were located in Chikalthana, while one was in the Waluj industrial zone. It had served voluntary closure notice to an auto ancillary in Waluj and show-cause notice to a unit in Waluj for violating environment norms.
