(a) whether the Government is aware that Bihar Caustic and Chemical Industry set up in village Rehala in Palamu district of Jharkhand is polluting Rehala and other nearby villages rendering hundreds of acres of land infertile and causing death of hundreds of animals alongwith adverse effects on the health of the people living there due to consumption of caustic contaminated water; and
(b) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to overcome the situation?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)
(a) M/s Bihar Caustic Soda and Chemicals Industry is producing caustic soda, chlorine and hydrochloric acid based on mercury cell process. The Central Pollution Control Board during monitoring of the unit have found that the industry is not complying with the norms of liquid effluent standards for Mercury(Hg) and stack emission standards for Chlorine(Cl). It was also observed that ground water and ambient air quality exceeds the stipulated standards.
(b) Based on the monitoring report, the Central Pollution Control Board has directed the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board to take necessary action for non-compliance of environmental standards by the industry.