Question : Surprise Inspection of Polluting Industries

(a) whether the Government has conducted any surprise or on-the-spot inspection of polluting industries/ companies in various States;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken and the directions issued to such industries/companies;
(c) whether the said industrial/ companies have complied with the directions;
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the details of the companies/industries which have not complied with the directions so far; and
(e) the action taken against the industries/companies which have not complied with the said directions?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (e) Monitoring and inspection of industrial units are done through surveillance squad and online systems. Online Continuous Emission/Effluent Monitoring system (OCEMS) was introduced by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2016 for transparent and objective monitoring of industrial units in States/Union Territories (UTs). CPCB has been carrying out surprise inspections based on SMS alert system generated by OCEMS of industries in the 17 categories of highly polluting industries to verify compliance with the stipulated norms. 406 industries have been inspected since 2016-17, and 247 directions issued under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to non-complying industries and 1 direction issued under Section 18(1)(b) of the Air and Water Acts to Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board. So far, 154 directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 have been complied. The details of monitoring carried out in different States/UTs are at Annexure. CPCB has also inspected 1109 Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) discharging into main stem of Ganga River & its tributaries during the period of December, 2015 to May, 2017. 538 units were found non-complying, out of which 180 units were issued show-cause notices and 358 units were issued closure directions.

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ANNEXURE