In another shocker from the polluting Gondegaon coal washery, crucial documents reveal that the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) granted it permission to operate, even though the unit failed to present environmental consent report and no objection certificate (NOC) for extracting groundwater.
This, according to environmentalists, not just accounts for violation of set norms but also contempt of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives regarding groundwater extraction.
The critical information was brought to the fore by a Right to Information (RTI) query which was filed by environment activist Leena Buddhe, also the founder of NGO Centre for Sustainable Development.
While responding to the query, MPCB recently stated that the Maharashtra Minerals Mining and Beneficiation Private Limited, which runs the washery, has failed to submit information regarding environmental compliance of consent status report and NOC by the Central Groundwater Authority to draw out groundwater at the washery’s premises.
Despite the absence of these mandatory conditions, the board allowed the washery to “conditionally restart” its operations. This, after directing the unit to close down immediately following a spot inspection by board officials on April 15 during which they had found heavy dust accumulation within the factory premises, indicating non-operation of air pollution control system.
While the board had asked the relevant authorities to disconnect electricity and water supply of the unit, locals informed that no such action was ever taken. “In fact, the washery continues to be as polluting as ever, without any concrete mitigation measures being taken to curb air pollution,” they said.
Stressing that the washery is operating “illegally”, environmentalists expressed shock on the consent to operation given by the board despite such violations. “We want to question the role of regulatory bodies here. How could MPCB permit the washery to restart its operations at the cost of environment and human lives? It raises strong doubts whether our pollution control bodies are acting under political pressure,” said Buddhe.
TOI was the first to report on the massive decline of agricultural yield in the village due to coal pollution. Ever since the Gondegaon washery restarted after being closed for over 15 years, coal dust would settle on the crops, leading to poor yield. Villagers too had been complaining of health ailments due to pollution.
Following the directives of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), MPCB has issued a closure notice. While giving consent to restart, it had asked the washery to submit bank guarantee. “It seems as if polluting units are allowed to continue to pollute once they pay money,” added Buddhe.
