Executive Summary:
This document is the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding industrial pollution in the Singrauli district of Uttar Pradesh. It outlines the environmental standards, monitoring mechanisms, and actions taken against non-compliant industries. Inspections were carried out, show-cause notices were issued, and action plans were prepared for the severely polluted Singrauli area.
Key Points / Main Content:
Environmental Standards and Monitoring:
* The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notifies standards for emissions from industries under the Environment Protection Rules, 1986.
* State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs) ensure the implementation of these standards.
* The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) mandates high pollution potential industries to install Online Continuous Effluent Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS).
* OCEMS data is transmitted to CPCB and SPCBs/PCCs, triggering SMS alerts upon exceeding prescribed norms.
Inspections and Compliance:
* CPCB inspected three units in Singrauli under the OCEMS system.
* Two units complied with environmental norms; one initially did not, but later complied after a show-cause notice (SCN) was issued.
Action Plans for Singrauli:
* Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh, is identified as a Severely Polluted Area (SPA) under the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI).
* Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) has prepared action plans including pollution control measures for Thermal Power Plants (TPP), coal fields, fly ash runoff, and wastewater treatment.
Inspection Frequency:
* SPCBs/PCCs are directed to inspect Red category industries every 6 months, Orange category every year, and Green category every 2 years.
* Common waste management facilities and high pollution potential industries are to be inspected quarterly.
Annexure I details:
* Hindalco Industries LtdMahan was complying as of 14/07/2017
* Ms Mahan Energen Ltd., was complying as of 2023
* Ms Hindalco Industries Ltd was complying as of 09/01/2024
Impact Analysis:
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
* Impact: Responsible for setting environmental standards and overseeing their implementation.
* Action Required: Continue to notify and update emission standards under the Environment Protection Rules.
State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs)
* Impact: Responsible for ensuring the implementation of environmental standards at the state level.
* Action Required: Enforce standards, conduct inspections, and take action against non-compliant industries, as well as inspect industries as per the frequency mentioned in the directions us 18(1)(b).
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
* Impact: Sets guidelines, monitors pollution levels, and coordinates with SPCBs/PCCs.
* Action Required: Ensure industries install and maintain OCEMS, monitor data, and issue alerts when necessary.
Industrial Units
* Impact: Required to comply with environmental standards and install OCEMS.
* Action Required: Achieve and maintain compliance with environmental standards, install and maintain OCEMS, and take corrective action when alerted about exceeding pollution norms.
Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB)
* Impact: Responsible for mitigating environmental pollution in the Severely Polluted Area (SPA) of Singrauli.
* Action Required: Implement and monitor the action plans for pollution control in Singrauli, including measures for TPPs, coal fields, fly ash, and wastewater treatment.
Key Entities Referenced
Singrauli district of Uttar Pradesh: District in Uttar Pradesh, India, where industrial units are allegedly not complying with environmental standards.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC): The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change.
Environment Protection Rules, 1986: Rules under which standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutants are notified.
CPCB: Central Pollution Control Board, responsible for directing high pollution potential industries to install Online Continuous Effluent Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS).
Online Continuous Effluent Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS): Systems installed by industries to monitor and transmit real-time data of environmental pollutants to CPCB and SPCB/PCCs.
Singrauli areas in Madhya Pradesh: Area in Madhya Pradesh identified as a Severely Polluted Area (SPA) due to a large number of polluting industrial sectors.
Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB): The state pollution control board that prepared action plans to mitigate environmental pollution in Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh.
Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI): Index used by CPCB to assess and identify Severely Polluted Areas (SPA).
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1374
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Industrial Pollution in Singrauli
1374. DR. RAJESH MISHRA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether industrial units either newly set up or already operating in Singrauli district of
Uttar Pradesh are not fully complying with the environmental standards and emitting
high level of pollution;
(b) if so, the action taken in this regard;
(c) the details of comprehensive inspection carried out to determine whether the
environmental standards are being followed by the said industries;
(d) the details of action taken so far against the industries responsible for non-compliance
with environmental standards in the said district; and
(e) the details of action plan proposed/to be proposed by the Government to check on
pollution caused by the industries in the country especially in the said district?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e):
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notifies “Standards for
Emission or Discharge of Environmental Pollutants from various Industries” under Schedule-I
of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986. The general standards as notified under Schedule-
VI of the Environment Protection Rules, 1986 are applicable where specific standards are not
available for the industrial sectors. The concerned SPCB/PCC ensures the implementation of
said standards. CPCB has directed all 17 categories of high pollution potential industries 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 aretransmitted online to CPCB and concerned SPCB/PCC on 24x7 basis. Central software
processes the data and in case of 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.
Further, a total number of 3 units have been inspected by CPCB in the district of Singrauli
under OCEMS system. Among these 3 units, 2 number of units were found complying with
environmental norms, while 1 number of unit was non-complying with environmental
standards against which show-cause notice (SCN) was issued. However, in due course the unit
recorded compliance with the issued SCN. Details of inspections of units in the district of
Singrauli is provided in Annexure-I.
The Singrauli areas in Madhya Pradesh, due to having a large number of red/orange category
polluting industrial sectors in the area, has been identified as Severely Polluted Area (SPA)
under Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) assessment carried out by CPCB.
Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) has prepared the action plans to mitigate
environmental pollution. The action plan includes pollution control measures for Thermal
Power Plants (TPP), Coal fields, Fly ash runoff and treatment of domestic wastewater.
Directions u/s 18(1)(b) of the Water and the Air Act are issued to all SPCBs/PCCs to inspect
Red, Orange, and Green categories of industries at a minimum inspection frequency of 6
months, 1 year and 2 years, for verification of compliance of environmental norms. In addition,
common waste management/treatment facilities such as STPs, CETPs, CBMWTFs etc., and 17
categories of high pollution potential industries are to be inspected on quarterly basis by
SPCBs/PCCs.
*****Annexure-I
OCEMS based Inspections for units situated in Singrauli district
Date of
Directions/ issue of
Name and address Date of Initial notices show- Updated Date of
S. No. State District Category
of the unit Inspection status issued cause status compliance
under notice u/s
5 of EPA
Hindalco Industries
Ltd-Mahan, NH-
75E, Singrauli -Sidhi
Madhya Non-
Road, Bargawan
1 Singrauli Aluminium 27/3/2017 E (P) Act 24/5/2017 Complying 14/7/2017
Pradesh Complying
Village,
SingrauliDistrict,Ma
dhya Pradesh,
Pincode-486886
Thermal
M/s Mahan Energen Madhya 14-07- Not
2 Singrauli power Complying Complying
Ltd., Singrauli, Pradesh 2023 required
plants
Madhya Pradesh
M/s Hindalco
Madhya 09-01- Not
Industries Ltd,
3 Singrauli Aluminium Complying Complying
Pradesh 2024 required
Bargawan, Madhya
Pradesh
*****