4 days ago
Hooghly Dairy Unit Faces Closure Over Severe Water Pollution
A dairy factory in Hooghly was accused of sending very dirty wastewater into a canal.
The West Bengal Pollution Control Board tested the water and found pollution levels much higher than allowed.
The factory was fined ₹3.5 lakh.
It was also ordered to close if the problem is not fixed.
However, the closure will not happen before September 1.
The board gave the factory time to properly operate its new wastewater treatment plant.
The factory says it is trying to follow the order.
An environmental group said the fine was too small and asked that the money be used to help repair the local environment.
The West Bengal Pollution Control Board ordered Starmilk Products to shut down from September 1 unless it reduces pollution levels.
The dairy was fined ₹3.5 lakh after allegedly discharging untreated effluent into the nearby Akambari Canal.
Testing found total suspended solids at 2,680 milligrams and BOD at 3,776 milligrams, far above permitted limits.
The board deferred the closure until August 31 because milk is a perishable and essential commodity.
Starmilk said it is trying to make its newly installed effluent treatment plant functional before the deadline.
- Who
- The West Bengal Pollution Control Board, Starmilk Products (P) Ltd, and Paribesh Academy are involved.
- What
- The board fined the dairy ₹3.5 lakh and ordered its closure unless it brings effluent pollution within prescribed limits.
- Where
- Starmilk Products is located at Jangalpara in Pursurah, Hooghly district, and its effluent was discharged into the Akambari Canal.
- When
- The closure order is scheduled to take effect on September 1, with compliance required by the end of August.
- Why
- The board said the unit bypassed its effluent treatment plant and discharged untreated wastewater, causing severe water pollution.
Environmental Protection
Industry Compliance and Continuation
Closure and enforcement
Environmental Protection
The pollution board’s technical committee considered the unit a fit case for closure because it allegedly discharged untreated effluent and severely exceeded pollution limits.
Industry Compliance and Continuation
The board deferred the closure until September 1 because milk is a perishable and essential commodity, giving the company time to correct the problem.
Size of the fine
Environmental Protection
Paribesh Academy said the ₹3.5 lakh fine was too low and demanded that the money be spent on improving the local environment.
Industry Compliance and Continuation
The article reports the board’s fine and compliance requirements but does not state that the company challenged the amount.
Cause of pollution
Environmental Protection
The complaint and inspection report attributed the pollution to wastewater being discharged outside the treatment system into the Akambari Canal.
Industry Compliance and Continuation
A state-board-associated expert said many dairy units have treatment systems designed for lower production volumes and may discharge additional wastewater when market demand increases.
Key facts
- Company
- Starmilk Products (P) Ltd
- Location
- Jangalpara, Pursurah, Hooghly district
- Fine
- ₹3.5 lakh
- Total suspended solids
- 2,680 milligrams recorded, against a permissible limit of 150 milligrams
- Biochemical oxygen demand
- 3,776 milligrams recorded, against a permissible limit of 100 milligrams
- Closure deadline
- September 1, unless the unit complies with the order
- Required action
- Make the newly installed effluent treatment plant fully functional and submit a compliance report by the end of August
Quotes
Biswajit Mukherjee
President of the nonprofit Paribesh Academy, which lodged the pollution complaint
“We have received complaints from the local people, did a field enquiry and forwarded the complaints to the state board. We have stated that the fine of ₹3.5 lakh is too low and demanded that the amount be spent on improving the local environment.”
telegraphindia.com
“We have received the order and are trying to comply with it before the timeline”
telegraphindia.com
State pollution-control-board expert
Expert associated with the West Bengal Pollution Control Board
“The reason is mostly overproduction. Most of the units have a pollution control system, effluent treatment plant, for a certain volume but often produce more than that as market demand grows and end up discharging the additional effluent directly outside, normally in a waterbody, bypassing the official treatment plant”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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