The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday directed closure of four out of total nine sugar mills in Bijnor, a district known as sugar bowl of north, after finding anomalies in their effluent treatment plants (ETP). A distillery factory has also been asked to shut its operations over to the same reason in the district.
The green panel and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) authorities had conducted raids at all the nine sugar mills in December last year. Later, a report was prepared over the issue and notices were served. When contacted, UPPCB authorities said that the sugar mill authorities will now have to take clearance from NGT to start their operations. The crushing season of sugarcane starts from November. It is the first time, when NGT has tightened noose around sugar mills in Bijnor district.
Regional officer of UPPCB Vivek Rai said, “A team of NGT and UPPCB had inspected all the sugar mills and distillery factories in Bijnor district. During the checking, authorities had found that ETPs of the four mills were not functioning as per norms. Team had prepared a report in this regard.”
“Six months after the raids, NGT served notices on the four sugar mills in Najibabad, Barkatpur, Syohara and Bilai. A distillery factory in Barkatpur was also served notice. NGT has asked the management of these factories to stop operations and not to start it again without permission from it.”
“Erring mill’s management will have to take permission to operate the mill. After their request, NGT will again inspect the mills and give permission if everything is found in order.” According to officials, the ETPs of the four mills were not working properly, and they were polluting the area.
On the other hand, farmers are unsure whether the sugar mills will be able to start their operations ahead of the crushing season.
RLD’s west UP spokesman Praveen Deshwal said: “The mill authorities should improve the ETP system so that the farmers will not have to suffer.”
However, Sukhveer Singh, general manager (GM) of Syohara Sugar Mill-- one of the affected factories-- said that the ETP was in good condition. “Our ETP is in place. We have been only asked by the PCB to get ETPs certified by renowned institute. These instructions are for all sugar factories of UP. We are following these instructions and sugar mills will start operating on time.”
On being asked about the matter, district cane officer OP Singh, said, “I have asked all the mill authorities to comply with the NGT instructions, so that all mills could start functioning on time.”