**Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3521, concerning pollution caused by LANXESS Udyog in Nagda, Madhya Pradesh, over the past fifteen years. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change responded on 11.08.2025, outlining inspections conducted by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and its Regional Directorate in Bhopal following pollution complaints.
Inspections revealed violations by LANXESS India Pvt. Ltd., including non-installation of stack emission monitoring devices, inadequate facilities for polluted water discharge into the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), and unauthorized hazardous waste transport. The CPCB issued directives to the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) under Section 18(1)(b) of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, to enforce compliance.
In 2022, further inspection prompted a letter to MPPCB on 09.01.2023, instructing LANXESS Pvt Ltd to augment sewage pumping capacity at Mehtwas and Dadawadi sewage pits, enhance sewage utilization within the plant post-treatment, and construct a 23ft wall at the drain endpoint. A Joint Committee inspection on 21.03.2023, following a National Green Tribunal (NGT) directive on 09.02.2023, indicated that LANXESS India Pvt. Ltd., Nagda, has achieved zero liquid discharge.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change.
LANXESS Udyog, Nagda: An industrial plant located in Nagda, Madhya Pradesh, which is the subject of pollution complaints.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India where the LANXESS Udyog plant is located.
Central Pollution Control Board: A statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change responsible for pollution control.
Ujjain: A city in Madhya Pradesh, potentially affected by waste from LANXESS industry.
Indore: A city and division in Madhya Pradesh, potentially affected by waste from LANXESS industry.
Chambal river: A river potentially affected by waste released from the LANXESS industry.
Water Prevention Control of Pollution Act, 1974: An act of the Parliament of India to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3521
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
Pollution Caused by LANXESS Industry
3521. SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether serious lapses have been found during the investigation of complaints of pollution
and violation of the conditions of operating approval of LANXESS Udyog, Nagda by
Madhya Pradesh and Central Pollution Control Board during the last fifteen years;
(b) if so, the details of the rules violated, the observations and recommendations made by the
Board and the legal action taken against the industry so far;
(c) whether the waste hazardous and acid waste generated by LANXESS industry was dumped
into various rivers and drains of Ujjain, Indore division through transporters and released into
Chambal river through underground water streams and pipes/drains by digging tubewells;
and
(d) if so, the punitive or legal action taken against the concerned industry and transporters?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d)
The industries of Nagda town including M/s Lanxess India Pvt. Ltd. have been inspected
multiple times in the last fifteen years by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Regional
Directorate of CPCB, Bhopal in response to representations received regarding pollution caused
by industries in the area. Some of the violations by M/s Lanxess India Pvt. Ltd observed during
the inspections were non-installation of stack emission monitoring device, lack of facility for
discharge of polluted water into Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), transport of hazardous waste by
unauthorized vehicles, etc. CPCB has given directions under section of 18(1)b of the Water
(Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 to Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board
(MPPCB) to ensure compliance by the industries.Further, in 2022, M/s Lanxess India Pvt. Ltd. was again inspected in response to a complaint. A
letter was issued to MPPCB in 09.01.2023 to direct M/s Lanxess Pvt Ltd to increase the sewage
pumping capacity at Mehtwas, Dadawadi sewage pit, increase sewage utilization in their plant
after required treatment, and erect a wall of 2-3ft on drain end point.
M/s Lanxess India Pvt. Ltd. was subsequently inspected on 21.03.2023 by a Joint Committee in
compliance with the Hon’ble NGT’s direction dated 09.02.2023. It was observed that M/s
Lanxess India Pvt. Ltd., Nagda, has achieved zero liquid discharge.
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