The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Guidelines for sponge iron units soon

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Sunday, Aug 20, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Guidelines for sponge iron units soon

Special Correspondent

State pollution control board organises seminar

HYDERABAD: The Central Pollution Control Board will shortly notify guidelines for the sponge iron industry, B. Sengupta, Member, announced here on Friday.

Speaking at a seminar on "Cleaner production and code of practice in sponge iron sector in Andhra Pradesh", organised by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) here on Saturday, he said in future permission would be granted to sponge iron units only with a daily capacity of 200 tonnes and above.

Coal-based units

Rajeswar Tiwari, APPCB Secretary, observed that it was imperative for the sponge iron industry, specially the coal-based units, to install pollution control equipment. While it was encouraging to see sponge iron plants coming up, they were found to be lacking pollution control devices. The plants were polluting land, water and air, besides damaging local flora and fauna.

He said that there were 23 sponge iron industries in the State. There was a mushroom growth of the industry in Mahabubnagar district after 2002. Failure of the units to take care of environment had resulted in filing of a PIL in the Supreme Court. Lack of awareness in the management of units was one of the root causes for pollution.

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Andhra Pradesh