proceedings of public hearing conducted on 05.07.2019 in ... of public... · study and proposed...

Proceedings of public hearing conducted on 05.07.2019 in connection with the application filed by M/s Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (PACL)., for obtaining Environmental Clearance as required under the EIA notification dated 14.09.2006 for Proposed Capacity Expansion of Existing Chlor Alkali Plant and Establishment of New Flaker Plant, Stable Bleaching Powder Plant, Hydrogen Peroxide Plant & Captive Power Plant at Naya Nangal, Distt. Rupnagar, Punjab.

The following members were present to supervise the proceedings:-

1. Sh. Jagwinderjit Singh, PCS,

Additional Deputy Commissioner,

Roop Nagar.

2. Dr. M L Chauhan,

Environmental Engineer (Mega),

Punjab Pollution Control Board,

Head Office, Patiala.

3. Er. Harsimran Singh,

Asstt. Environmental Engineer,

Punjab Pollution Control Board,

Patiala.

4. Sh. Dileep Singh,

Tehsildar, Nangal, District Roop Nagar

Environmental Engineer (Mega), Punjab Pollution Control Board, Head

Office, Patiala welcomed the officers supervising and presiding over the hearing and

people from adjoining towns/villages who came to attend the public hearing of the

project in connection with the application filed by M/s Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals

Limited (PACL)., in the office of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India,

New Delhi for getting Environmental Clearance under EIA notification no. 1533 (E)

dated 14.09.2006 for proposed capacity expansion of existing chlor alkali plant and

establishment of new flaker Plant, Stable Bleaching Powder Plant, Hydrogen Peroxide

Plant & Captive Power Plant at Naya Nangal, Dist. Rupnagar, Punjab. He apprised the

public present there about the requirement for conduct of the public hearing before

deciding on the application filed by the industry for getting the said clearance for

setting up an industrial plant. He also brought into the notice of public that the industry

has submitted copies of the draft EIA Report along with the Executive Summary of the

same and a copy of each such document was placed in the office of Deputy

Commissioner Rupnagar, Chairman Zilla Parishad, Rupnagar, Executive officer,

Public hearing (05.07.2019) of M/s Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (PACL) Naya Nangal, Distt. Rupnagar, Punjab

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Municipal Corporation, Naya Nangal, General Manager, District Industries Centre,

Mohali, Environmental Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Regional Office,

Mohali, Regional Office of MoEF at Chandigarh and Punjab Pollution Control Board,

Head Office, Patiala for access to the public and other stakeholders. He further brought

out that a notice of public hearing was published in two prominent newspapers namely,

‘Indian Express’ (English Daily) on 26.05.2019 and ‘Ajit’ (Punjabi Daily) on 25.05.2019

to make the public aware of the date, time & venue of the public hearing and about the

places /offices where the public could access the draft EIA Report and its Executive

Summary report before the said hearing. Thereafter, he requested the representative of

the industry to elaborate about the main features of the project and the draft EIA study

report.

Sh. Ravinder Jaswal, of M/s Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals Limited,

DGM (HR) of M/s PACL, brought out the details of the proposed project before the

public as under:-

1. Punjab Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (PACL) was incorporated as a Public

Limited Company on December 1975 under the name “Punjab Alkalies Limited”.

The name of the Company was subsequently changed to Punjab Alkalies &

Chemicals Limited and a “Fresh Certificate of Incorporation Consequent on

Change of Name” dated 19th April 1983 was obtained from the Registrar of

Companies, Punjab, HP & Chandigarh, Jalandhar. The Company is promoted by

the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation Limited (PSIDC), a wholly

owned Punjab Government Company.

2. The company is promoted by Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation

Limited (PSIDC), a wholly owned Punjab Government Company. The company is

managed by a Board of Directors comprising of senior Government officers,

professionals and experienced persons, namely: Smt Vini Mahajan, IAS

(Chairperson); Sh. Manjit Singh Brar, IAS, (Managing Director); Smt. Neelima,

IAS (Director); Dr. A.K. Kundra, IAS (Retd.) (Director); Sh. D.C. Mehandru

(Director), Sh. J.S. Mann (Director) and Sh. Naveen Chopra (Director).


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3. Location: Nangal-Una Road, Naya Nangal, Dist. Rupnagar, Punjab. Total Plot

Area: 3,46,408 m2. Proposed expansion project area: 1,21,434 m2. Greenbelt

Area: 1,13,856 m2 (~ 33% of total plot area). Estimated Project Cost: 1,240

crores.

4. As per the EIA notification dated 14th September, 2006, as amended till date, the

proposed project falls in category including Project / Activity: 4(d) – Chlor Alkali

industry along with 1(d) – Thermal Power Plants and categorized under “A”, due

to the following reasons:

Project is outside the notified industrial area/ estate and overall Chlor –

Alkali capacity is ≥300 TPD;

Inter-state boundary between Punjab & Himachal Pradesh is ~1.0 km

west of the site.

5. PACL submitted relevant documents such as Form I, along with a Pre-Feasibility

study and Proposed Terms of Reference (ToRs) for carrying out Environmental

Studies, to the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), MoEF&CC on 17th October,

2018.

6. Terms of Reference (ToRs) were then issued for the proposed project by

MoEF&CC vide ToR letter to conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

& Environmental Management Plan (EMP) studies vide letter dated 18th

November, 2018.

7. Product List:

Sr.

No. Product

Capacity (MTPA)

Existing Additional

Proposed

Total after

expansion

Products

1 Caustic Soda Lye 99,000 1,65,000 2,64,000

2 Hydrogen Gas 277.20 lakh

Nm3

462

lakh Nm3

739.2

lakh Nm3

3 Liquid Chlorine 87,714 1,46,190 2,33,904

4 Caustic Flakes* 0 66,000 66,000


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Sr.

No. Product

Capacity (MTPA)

Existing Additional

Proposed

Total after

expansion

5 Stable Bleaching

Powder* 0 33,000 33,000

6 Hydrogen Peroxide* 0 16,500 16,500

By Products

1 Hydrochloric Acid 39,600 66,000 1,05,600

2 Sodium Hypo

Chloride 2,000 4,000 6,000

3 Dilute Sulphuric Acid 2,100 3,500 5,600

Power Generation

1 Captive Power Plant 0 MW 75 MW 75 MW

8. Power Requirement & Source: Power requirement of 40 MW for the existing

project is being met from existing grid supply from Government of Punjab. After

expansion, power will be met from Captive Power Plant of 75 MW capacity as

well as from the grid.

9. Fuel for Captive power plant: Coal and Biomass

10. Water Consumption: Source River Sutlej by the Irrigation Department,

Government of Punjab, through the existing Bhakra-Nangal dam. Existing = 4933

KLD, Proposed = 7003 KLD & Total = 11936 KLD. The Government of Punjab,

Irrigation Department has already granted permission for additional water

requirement.

11. Waste Water Generation, Disposal (in KLD): Existing = 293 KLD, Proposed =

1243 KLD & Total = 1536 KLD. 108 KLD sewage to Sewer line & 1,428 KLD to

ETP followed by RO & MEE. Thus, Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) will be met.

12. No. of Flue gas stacks: Existing = 6 nos.; Proposed = 7 nos.; Total = 13 nos.

13. No. of Process vents / stacks: Existing = 4 nos.; Proposed = 3 nos.; Total = 7

nos.


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14. Hazardous wastes: a) Used / Spent Oil: Existing = 1 MTPA; Proposed = 1.7;

Total = 2.7 MTPA; b) MEE sludge: Existing = 450 MTPA; Proposed = 1400

MTPA; Total = 1750 MTPA

15. Solid wastes: a) Brine Sludge: Existing = 2300 MTPA; Proposed = 3833; Total =

6133 MTPA. b) Fly Ash: Existing = 5 MTPA; Proposed = 55,000 MTPA; Total

55,005 MTPA.

POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES:

16. Air Pollution Control Measures: ESP Stack height of 55 to 60 m will be provided

to control PM. Limestone dosing will be done to control SO2. APCM like Water

Scrubbers, Caustic Scrubbers, and Activated Carbon & ESP will be provided.

Effective water spraying will be done on the access roads to control dust.

Regular workplace monitoring will be done.

17. Water Pollution Control Measures: Zero liquid discharge shall be achieved by

recycled and reuse of treated waste water. Properly designed effluent drains with

side barriers will be provided & inflow will be diverted to ETP, RO & MEE for

necessary treatment. Drip irrigation system will be proposed for greenbelt

development to reduce fresh water demand.

18. Hazardous Waste: Used or Spent Oil will be sold to authorized recyclers. MEE

Sludge will be disposed to authorize TSDF.

ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN

The company plans to spend the total Capital cost of INR 29.70 crores

and Recurring cost of INR 10.47 crores per annum for controlling the pollution of

different parameters in the Environment. The breakup of this is as under:

19. Air Pollution Control: Capital Cost – INR 12 Crores, Recurring Cost – INR 5

Crores.

20. Water Pollution Control: Capital Cost – INR 13.60 Crores, Recurring Cost – INR

4.6 Crores.


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21. Noise Pollution Control: Capital Cost – INR 0.95 Crores, Recurring Cost – INR

0.35 Crores.

22. Solid and Hazardous Waste Management: Capital Cost – INR 3.0 Crores (for 1st

five years), Recurring Cost – INR 0.5 Crores.

23. Environment Monitoring and Management: Capital Cost – INR 0.1 Crores.

24. Greenbelt: Capital Cost – INR 0.05 Crores for 5 years, Recurring Cost – INR 0.02

Crores per annum.

25. In addition to the above cost, Rs. 0.45 crores have been allocated for 5 years

towards conservation of scheduled fauna in the area for the implementation of

conservation proposal.

CER ACTIVITIES

The company will spend INR 3.10 Crores for 5 years (i.e. 0.25% of the project cost INR

1,240 crores as per the OM dated May 1, 2018) for undertaking the Corporate

Environment Responsibility (CER) activities in the study area. This is conditional to the

project being implemented in the said duration. At any rate, 0.25% of investment will

be spent on CER.

Conclusions

Based on the EIA study conducted for 12 weeks of 2018 -2019 and as per

terms of reference given by EAC the following highlight emerges:

Site is well connected with ports, highway and railway;

Vehicular transportation via road would be ~200 trucks/day;

Strict adherence to all the applicable regulatory requirements will be complied with;

Safety and environmental norms will be followed;

Recycle & Reuse scheme will be implemented to reduce water consumption;

Provision of air pollution control equipment, management of hazardous waste,

will lead to minimum adverse environmental impacts;


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The project shall generate employment potential for skilled, semiskilled, unskilled

people during construction & operation phase.

Sh. Naveen Chopra, Director of the company informed that the company

has proposed to expand the capacity of the unit about three times. The company has

provided employment to the local people. R.O. system has been provided in Village

Binnewal for providing drinking water to the villagers. The industry has also provided

pipeline for irrigation purposes for the fields of Village Binnewal. He also informed that

the company has provided dispensary with testing lab in the company where treatment

and tests of the patients are being done free of cost. The company has also available

ambulance for meeting any untoward incident in the factory. The company has

provided direct and indirect employment to the local people. The existing unit of the

company has been equipped with latest technology from German's renowned company,

which is meeting all safety standards of Chlor Alkali Plant. On-site & Off-site emergency

plan has been prepared by the company to meet out any untoward incident. He also

informed that adequate alarm systems and chlorine detectors are installed in the plant

to detect any leakage in case of emergency. The entire wastewater after treatment is

used in the industry for various purposes and no wastewater is discharged outside the

industrial premises, as such, plant is zero liquid discharge. 35% of the total plot area

has been developed as green belt. 2,000 trees every year will be planted. Rs. 45 Lacs

have been allocated for 5 years towards conservation of scheduled fauna in the area for

the implementation of conservation proposal. All the chimneys have been provided with

censor system, which are being monitored by the CPCB & Punjab Pollution Control

Board. He also informed that the industry has been established for the generation of


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employment and not for commercial purposes. Daily 200 tankers have been sent from

the project and after expansion more than 600 tankers daily will sent with which there

will be development of the area.

The project will have social & financial benefits and will be

environmentally sustainable. In view of this, the project proponent requested the

proposed project to be considered for grant of Environmental Clearance.

Thereafter, Environmental Engineer brought into the notice of public

present at the venue of hearing that as per the provisions of EIA notification dated

14.09.2006, as amended from time to time, the persons present at the venue may seek

any information or clarifications on the proposed expansion project from the project

promoter and may also raise objections, if any. It was also brought into the notice of

the persons present there that the information or clarifications or objections raised by

them and reply given by the project proponent will be recorded in the proceedings of

the hearing, which will be sent to MoEF&CC, New Delhi for further consideration.

Accordingly, he requested the persons present in the hearing to seek information or

clarifications or raise objections, if any on the project one by one. He also informed that

no objections on the project have been received from the public in writing by the Board,

so far.

Thereupon, the detail of the information/clarifications sought by the people

present at the venue of the hearing and the reply given by the project proponent is as

under:

Sr. No.

Name & address of the person

Detail of query/ statement / information / clarification sought by the person present

Reply of the query / statement / information / clarification given by the project proponent

1. Sh. Amarjeet Singh, r/o Village Binnewal,

He wanted to know as to whether there is any danger to the life

Sh. Naveen Chopra, Director of the company informed that the plant is in operation since 1983


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District Roop Nagar of the people with the expansion of the project.

and there is no danger to the life of the people of the area. He further informed that the existing unit of the company has been equipped with latest technology from German's renowned company meeting all safety standards of Chlor Alkali Plant. With the expansion of the unit, the people of the area will get more employment opportunities.

2. Smt. Jasbir Kaur, Sarpanch, r/o Village Binnewal, District Roop Nagar.

She stated that the priority should be given to the safety as there is a colony adjacent to the project and a school is running thereto. She thanked to the management of the project for providing R.O. & pipeline for irrigation of agriculture crops. She also demanded that the priority should be given to their village in employment opportunities. She also demanded that the project management should spend money for the marriage of girls of poor families of the area.

Director of the company informed that the existing unit of the company has been equipped with latest technology from German's renowned company, which is meeting all safety standards of Chlor Alkali Plant and expansion project will also be equipped with same technology. He also informed that with the expansion of the unit 500-600 people will get employment and preference will be given to the people of Nangal area. The indirect employment especially in transportation sector (Tankers & Trucks) will also be generated. He further informed that PACL will try to spend money in the marriages of the girls of poor families under CER activities.

3. Sh. Kuldeep Singh Ex-Sarpanch, Village Bhanam, District Roop Nagar

He stated that with the people of the area will get employment with the expansion of the industry. He also stated that

Director of the company informed that he has already informed that the preference will be given to the local people in employment and the environment of the area will be


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environment of the area should be kept in mind. He demanded that the preference should be given in the employment to the nearby people.

kept in mind.

4. Sh. Simranjit Singh, r/o Village Binnewal, District Roop Nagar

He stated that chlorine Gas tanks are mostly outdated and the same must be changed. He further stated that the company should make arrangements in case of any emergency of gas leakage. He also stated that the people of the surrounding areas should also be given training of such emergency.

Director of the company informed that the Liquid Chlorine Storage Tanks are being checked by Explosives Department as per statutory requirement once in two years and the valves are checked once in a year. He also informed that the Explosive Department also issue certificate of fitness in this regard. Adequate safety measures and pollution control measures are being taken care as per provisions of various Environmental and Safety Acts and Rules. He also informed that PACL is organizing Mock drills on regular basis for safe handling of liquid chlorine.

5. Sh. Sital Singh Sandhu, r/o Village Binnewal, District Roop Nagar

He stated that the company has provided water to the area, which is right of the people of the area. The bill of R.O. system, which has been provided by the company is being paid by the Gurudwara Sahib of their village. He further stated that the plant of the company may leak at any time. He demanded that the company should also

Director of the company informed that the social activities will be met with the help & suggestion of the local people and Sarpanch of the Village. He also informed that the existing unit of the company has been equipped with latest technology from German's renowned company, which is meeting all safety standards of Chlor Alkali Plant and expansion project will also be equipped with same technology and there will be no chance of leakage of any type of gas from the project. He also informed that adequate alarm systems and chlorine detectors


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provide employment to the people who passed 10th & 12th class.

are installed in the plant to detect any leakage in case of emergency. He further informed that the company is going to install 75 MW co-generation power plant, where people who passed 10th or 12th class will be adjusted.

6. Sh. Amrik Singh, r/o Malukpur, District Roop Nagar

He stated that the water of his bore (motor pump) installed in the fields is not suitable for irrigation with which crops in the fields are being damaged.

Director of the company informed that the company has provided pipeline in the nearby area, which is being used by the farmers for irrigation purposes. The company has provided R.O. system in the village for providing drinking water to the people of Village Binnewal.

Environmental Engineer (Mega), Punjab Pollution Control Board, Patiala informed that the Asstt. Environmental Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Regional Office, Mohali has informed that the samples of groundwater were taken by the Board in December, 2018 and the analysis results of the same are within limits. Groundwater samples will be again taken to monitor the groundwater in the area.

7. Sh. Swaran Singh, Village Bela Dhayani, District Roop Nagar

He stated that earlier (8-9 years back) the industry discharge its wastewater in the river Satluj through Nallah, but now this is not being done. The water of Village Bela Dhiani and Mojowal is not suitable for crops and the wheat crop of the area is being damaged. He demanded that the

Director of the company informed that the unit is based on zero liquid discharge (ZLD). The entire water of the unit after proper treatment is being used in the project for various purposes like cooling towers, DM tanks etc. in the industrial premises. He also informed that the preference will be given to the local people in the employment. This treated water is even fit for drinking purposes. PACL has not gone into any type


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sample of groundwater from the depth of 70-80 ft be taken and got analyzed. He demanded that the employment in the unit may be ensured and drinking water to the nearby villages be provided. He further stated that earlier a Pollution Committee consisting of representatives from five villages was constituted and he is the member of that committee, to take the matter with the managements of NFL & PACL, but no satisfactory solution could be arrived at. He also stated that the drinking water should be provided to the surrounding village inline of Village Binnewal. Air pollution should be controlled. He welcomed the expansion of the project.

of expansion since the last so many years due to shortage of funds. Now, PACL is going for expansion of existing projects and adding new projects, as a result of which there would be employment generation of around 400 to 500 people. PACL will also try to give preference to local people for employment as and when required subject to fulfillment of eligibility criteria.

8. Sh. Harjap Singh, Member Block Samiti, Village Majara, District Roop Nagar

He said that employment quota should be fixed for the nearby villages, so that local people can get employment.

Director of the Company informed that M/s PACL will also try to give preference to local people for employment as and when required subject to fulfillment of eligibility criteria.

9. Sh. Satnam Singh, Village Binnewal, District Roop Nagar

What are the benefits & disadvantages of new project? Local people should be

Director of the Company informed that advantages of the proposed project have already been mentioned in project


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given preference in employment.

presentation read by Sh. Ravinder Jaswal, DGM HR, PACL. Preference will be given to persons in nearby villages subject to their meeting the eligibility criteria required for employment as and when required.

10. Sh. Hardyal Singh Pradhan, Gram Panchayat, Village Malookpur, District Roop Nagar

He stated that the different speakers have given their suggestions and the reply of the same have also been given by the management for which he thanks the management of the company. He demanded that the water pollution should be controlled. He also stated that they have no objection for expansion of the project. He demanded that pipeline to Village Binnewal which was under-work for the last two years should be extended upto the Dera of Bhaju Baba, so that approx. 150 Acres of land of his village will get water also. He thanked PACL Management and requested to give preference in employment of their villages.

Director of the Company welcomed the suggestion for extending the pipeline upto the Bhaju Baba Dera and the Management will form a committee to access such types of needs of the surrounding area under CER activities for 150 Acres of land of his village and principally agree upon the same. He confirmed that preference will be given to persons in nearby villages subject to their meeting the eligibility criteria required for employment as and when required.

11. Sh. Piara Singh, Village Uparli Daroli & President, The Nangal Co-

He welcomed to all the dignitaries and Panch / Sarpanchs of the nearby villages.

Director of the Company thanks the speaker.


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Operative Truck Operator Goods Carriers Transport Society Ltd., Nangal

He said that Truck union has been doing a business of approximately Rs.7.00 crores per month with PACL. Not only one but 3-4 mores projects may be commissioned and no one oppose the same. Employment should be given to the local people and more business to Transport Society.

12. Sh. M.P. Singh, r/o Bhaglan, District Roop Nagar

He expressed his happiness over the expansion of the project. He stated that Truck Society, Nangal has been attached with PACL for business since 1984 and he is happy with the expansion of the project. He urged the Hon’ble ADC to establish more projects in the vacant land of NFL, BBMB and PNFC also. He also urged Speaker Sahib and MP Sahib of their area to bring more industries in the Nangal area to establish an industrial Hub.

No comments required.

Then the Environmental Engineer (Mega), Punjab Pollution Control

Board requested the public thrice, that if anyone else want to ask any more question or

objection about the proposed expansion project, he may come forward, but no one

came forward. After that people were asked to raise their hands who are in favour of


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this expansion project and almost all the people present raised their hands in favor of

this project. He then asked the people to raise their hands who are not in favour of the

project but no one present in the public hearing raised his hands in disfavor of the

project. The public hearing was attended by 379 persons.

The public hearing ended with vote of thanks to the chair.

(Harsimran Singh)

Asstt. Environmental Engineer, Punjab Pollution Control Board,

Regional Office, Mohali

(Dr. Manohar Lal Chauhan) Environmental Engineer (Mega) Punjab Pollution Control Board,

Patiala.

(Jagwinderjit Singh), PCS Addl. Deputy Commissioner,

Roop Nagar

proceedings of public hearing conducted on 05.07.2019 in ... of public... · study and proposed...

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