The National Green Tribunal has directed the Centre to clarify its stand on distilleries and sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh manufacturing, storing and transporting ethanol without obtaining permission from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).
The green bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar has directed the ministries of Environment & Forests, Petroleum, PESO and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to act in this regard.
“We direct the counsel appearing for MoEF, Ministry of Petroleum, PESO and CPCB to take clear instructions as to what course of action they propose to adopt, particularly in regard to the matter in issue and with regard to the industries which are generating absolute Ethanol without any license,” the bench said. The matter is listed for next hearing on December 13,” the bench said.
The order of the green court came while hearing a contempt plea filed by NGO SAFE alleging that authorities were allowing illegal operation of these units without license and in contravention of the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules 1989, putting lives at grave risk.
The NGO had referred to UP government's affidavit and contended that only two of the 35 distilleries had requisite license while the others were manufacturing ethanol illegally.
The GO in its contempt plea said that the industries manufacturing absolute alcohol or ethanol were not only operating illegally without the requisite permission from competent authorities, but also manipulating the actual total production, storage and sales figures of absolute alcohol . “This apart from causing huge financial loss to state exchequer was also jeopardising safety of people and environment,” said the petition.
The NGT on May 9 had directed that no manufacturer will produce absolute alcohol without seeking permission from the Ministry of Commerce, Chief Controller Explosives and other authorities.
This is as per the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 and Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules 1996 as notified under the provision of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, which makes such permissions mandatory.