The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has slapped a notice on the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) recently for not complying with the pollution norms in setting up the required devices in its Captive Power Plant.
The RSP, therefore, has been facing a threat of losing its bank guarantee amount of about Rs 2 crore, if it does not complete the job within next three months. Sources said, during a routine check up in the RSP, about a year ago, the SPCB officials had found some deficiencies in two of its units like the Captive Power Plant and the Sintering Plant I. As per the provision, the SPCB had asked the RSP to install various pollution control devices within the stipulated guidelines. Accordingly, the RSP besides agreeing to install the suggested pollution control devices had also submitted a bank guarantee of Rs 7.5 crore.
According to sources, the stipulated deadline of setting up the devices was April 30 last. However, the RSP was not able to complete the job within the deadline. “Since, the RSP has not complied with the instruction within the stipulated deadline, we had no other option than to serve notice to them,” said Regional Officer of the SPCB N Mallick. According to RSP sources, RSP CEO GS Prasad had written a letter to member secretary of SPCB, making an appeal to give them some more time to complete the job. The Central PSU however recently has got respite the SPCB allowed a period of another three months.