Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 16: Following NGT directive after Vishakhapatnam tragedy, the J&K Pollution Control Board Chairman, Suresh Chugh today inspected several industrial units at Samba and Kathua and took stock of the safety measures in place in some units.
Chug was accompanied by Member Secretary PCB, Brij Mohan Sharma, Regional Director Jammu- Dr Syed Nadeem Hussain, State Analyst Dr Yash Pal, District Officer Samba North Sanjay Rathore, DO Samba South Angrez Singh, Distt PCB Officer Kathua Anil Sharma and other officials of the PCB and SIDCO.
The inspections were carried out in order to take stock of the preparedness of the units and safety precautions to be taken before resuming operation after the COVID-19 lockdown. The units inspected were UFLEX unit-I, Bari Brahmana; Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Samba South; Satyam Cements, Kathua and Kohinoor Tyre Retreading Unit Kathua.
The Chairman also took stock of the ongoing work at the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) at Samba South Phase-I. He was informed that 80 % of the work on the CETP had already been completed. Chugh directed the SIDCO officials to speed up the work and complete the same in a stipulated time frame in compliance of the directions of the NGT.
It is pertinent to mention here that in a tragic event due to serious chemical leakages in a gas plant in Vishakhapatnam several people lost their lives recently. This prompted the NGT to direct the Central Pollution Control Board to frame guidelines for the precautions to be taken before resuming operation by all units, since the units have largely remained closed during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. CPCB has now come up with a set of guidelines to be followed by all industrial units which will resume operations.
The Chairman PCB directed the unit holders to take up proper safety and hazards audit before resuming operations and ensure to take utmost care in handling hazardous chemicals by using trained manpower only. He further directed to make sure that all the pollution control equipment, Effluent Treatment Plants including safety equipment etc. are kept in good operable conditions.
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