Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed concerns regarding environmental violations by coal mining, sponge iron, and steel units in Giridih. Inspections, directives, and monitoring mechanisms are in place, including online continuous emission monitoring systems (OCEMS). Environmental clearances (EC) are mandatory, and standards for emissions are enforced by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB).
Key Points / Main Content:
Inspections and Actions by JSPCB:
* Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) regularly inspects industrial units in Giridih.
* In 2025, JSPCB inspected 7 Sponge Iron units and issued letters for violations related to solid waste management, CAAQMS data submission, and environmental data display.
* Non-complying units receive regular directives.
Pollution Control Measures:
* Sponge iron industries in Giridih have installed Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) and bag filters.
* Regular water sprinkling is conducted.
* Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) are installed and connected to JSPCB and CPCB servers.
* PM10 analyzers monitor ambient air quality and are connected to JSPCB and CPCB servers.
Environmental Clearances and Standards:
* Environmental Clearance (EC) is mandatory for coal mining, sponge iron, and steel plants before commencement.
* Detailed Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environment Management Plan (EMP) are required.
* Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) are required from State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB).
* The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notifies standards for emissions from various industries.
* Environmental Standards for coal mines, sponge iron plants, and iron/steel plants have been notified.
Monitoring and Enforcement:
* Comprehensive environmental monitoring assesses mitigation measures' efficacy.
* Compliance reports are routinely submitted to regulatory agencies.
* CPCB has directed high pollution potential industries to install Online Continuous Effluent Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS).
* Real-time data from OCEMS is transmitted to SPCBs and CPCB.
* Automatic SMS alerts are generated for exceedances, notifying the industrial unit, SPCB, and CPCB.
Impact Analysis:
Industrial Units in Giridih:
* Impact: Subject to regular inspections and must adhere to environmental standards, install pollution control measures, and participate in online monitoring.
* Action Required: Implement corrective measures upon receiving SMS alerts for exceeding pollution limits and comply with directives from JSPCB and the Giridih District Environmental Committee.
Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB):
* Impact: Responsible for conducting regular inspections, issuing directives, and monitoring compliance with environmental standards.
* Action Required: Continue regular inspections, enforce environmental standards, and respond to alerts from OCEMS.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
* Impact: Oversees monitoring and enforcement through OCEMS and sets environmental standards.
* Action Required: Process data from OCEMS, issue alerts, and ensure SPCBs take appropriate action.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC):
* Impact: Sets environmental standards, mandates environmental clearances, and oversees environmental impact assessments.
* Action Required: Continue to update and enforce environmental standards, review EIAs, and issue environmental clearances.
Local Residents:
* Impact: Affected by the environmental quality in the region due to industrial emissions and waste.
* Action Required: No direct action required, but may benefit from improved environmental monitoring and enforcement.
Key Entities Referenced
Giridih: A district in Jharkhand, India, where environmental violations by coal mining, sponge iron, and steel units are reported.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): The central pollution control board of India, responsible for addressing environmental violations and monitoring pollution levels.
Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB): The state pollution control board responsible for inspecting industrial units and monitoring pollution control systems in Jharkhand.
Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006: A notification mandating Environmental Clearance (EC) for Coal Mining, Sponge Iron Plant and Steel Plant.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC): The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change.
State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA): State authority responsible for environmental impact assessment.
Environment Protection Rules, 1986: Rules under the Environment Protection Act that define standards for environmental pollutants.
Online Continuous Effluent Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS): Systems installed by industries to monitor and transmit real-time data on environmental pollutants to pollution control boards.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2530
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
Environmental Violations by Coal Mining, Sponge-iron and Steel Units in Giridih
2530. SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government/Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is aware
of environmental violations by coal mining, sponge-iron and steel units in Giridih, such
as persistent industrial air and water pollution emissions of smoke, soot, dust and
contamination of groundwater and rivers caused by dozens of sponge-iron, ferro-alloy
and rolling mills around Giridih;
(b) if so, the concrete actions taken by the Government/CPCB to address this issue;
(c) whether any environmental or health impact assessments have been conducted regarding
air quality degradation, water contamination in local rivers and groundwater, respiratory
illnesses, soil degradation or crop damage in affected communities;
(d) if so, the principal findings, including levels of pollution detected, health statistics and
ecological impacts; and
(e) the details of the additional measures are being implemented to strengthen the
enforcement of environmental norms in Giridih’s industrial and mining units, safeguard
public health and provide relief or rehabilitation to affected residents?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e)
Sponge iron, induction furnace and rolling mill are the major industries in the villages of Gadi
Srirampur, Mohanpur, Udnabad, Phulchi, in Giridih District. The Jharkhand State Pollution
Control Board (JSPCB) regularly inspects the industrial units of the state. In the year 2025,
JSPCB inspected 07 Sponge Iron units to assess their pollution control systems. Letters were
issued to 07 industrial units for violations of improper solid waste management/ submission of
CAAQMS data/ display of environmental data. The sponge iron industries located in Giridih
have installed Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) device on the rotary kiln and bag filters on other
dust emitting sources. Water sprinkling is regularly done by fixed water sprinkler and water
tanker. These industrial units are equipped with Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System
(OCEMS) which is connected to the server of JSPCB and Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB). PM10 analyzers are also installed by the industries to monitor ambient air quality, and
these are connected to JSPCB and CPCB servers. Regular directions are issued to non-
complying units. The Giridih District Environmental Committee, in its meetings, regularlydirects various industrial units to abate pollution. Ambient Air Quality Monitoring reports (for
parameters RSPM, SO and NO ) carried out near Tiranga Chowk, Giridih from January to
2 x
March 2025, shows that the pollutant concentrations is within the prescribed standards.
The Government has made it mandatory to obtain Environmental Clearance (EC) before
commencement of Coal Mining, Sponge Iron Plant and Steel Plant under the Environment
Impact Assessment Notification, 2006 from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change (MoEFCC)/ State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). In this regard a
detailed Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is carried out and comprehensive Environment
Management Plan (EMP) with all safeguards is to be submitted. The EIA/EMP is deliberated in
detail by the Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) of MoEF&CC / State Environmental
Appraisal Committee (SEAC) of State Government, before issuance of EC.
In addition, all the above mentioned units have to obtain Consent to Establish (CTE) and
Consent to Operate (CTO) from State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB). These Environmental
Permits stipulate all necessary conditions including mitigation measures to protect the
environment.
The stipulated conditions of EC/CTO/CTE and the mitigation measures proposed in EMP are
necessarily complied to maintain the appropriate environmental standards in and around unit
premises. Comprehensive environmental monitoring mechanism, for assessing the efficacy of
mitigation measures, is undertaken as prescribed in the Environment (Protection) Act & Rules
and EC conditions. The compliance report is submitted to regulatory agencies on routine basis by
the project proponent.
The MoEFCC notifies “Standards for Emission or Discharge of Environmental Pollutants from
various Industries” under Schedule-I of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986.
The Environmental Standards for coal mines has been notified by MoEFCC vide G.S.R.
742(E), dated 25.9.2000,
Environmental Standards for Sponge Iron Plant has been notified vide G.S.R. 414(E) on
30.05.2008
Environmental Standards for Iron & Steel Plant has been notified vide G.S.R. 277(E) on
31.03.2012.
The Environmental Standards are enforced by SPCB through consent mechanism and monitoring
on time to time basis. Further, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed all 17
categories of high pollution potential industries (including Sponge Iron Plants and Steel Plant)
and common waste treatment facilities to install Online Continuous Effluent/ Emission
Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) for strengthening monitoring mechanism and effective
compliance through self-regulatory mechanism and constant vigil on pollution levels. Real-time
values of environmental pollutants of trade effluent and emissions generated through OCEMS
are transmitted online to concerned SPCB/PCC and CPCB on 24x7 basis. The data is processed
at CPCB and if the value of pollutant parameter exceeds prescribed environmental norms, an
automatic SMS alert is generated and sent to industrial unit, SPCB and CPCB, so that corrective
measures can be taken by the industry immediately and appropriate action can be taken by
concerned SPCB/PCC/CPCB.
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