Regulatory action sought after inspections find procedural and monitoring shortcomings
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has asked the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to take appropriate action under the plant's consent to operate (CTO) granted to the Shree Cement unit in Panipat following inspections on August 4 and 7, the board said on Saturday.
The inspections were carried out after directions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to verify compliance with environmental norms, including conditions under the environmental clearance and the CTO. The CPCB said its inspection report has been submitted to the NGT.
Key findings from the two inspections
On both occasions the unit was found shut, which prevented the CPCB team from conducting stack emission monitoring. During the first visit on August 4, plant representatives reportedly told the CPCB team that the shutdown was due to a breakdown and that operations would restart within 10 minutes. The plant, however, remained shut when the CPCB team left the premises. On August 7 the plant was again found non-operational and the CPCB recorded inconsistent reasons for the shutdown.
The CPCB also raised concerns about the siting of the unit’s manual ambient air quality monitoring station. The station was installed beneath a tree canopy and near surrounding structures, which, the CPCB said, runs contrary to prescribed siting guidelines. As a result, the board warned the station’s output could be unreliable.
"The data generated from the station, therefore, may not be representative."
In addition, inspectors found the plant generating certain hazardous wastes — specifically empty barrels and cotton rags — without obtaining authorisation for these waste categories under the applicable rules.
What the CPCB has asked HSPCB to do
The CPCB has directed the HSPCB to take suitable action under the conditions of the CTO. The direction indicates the need for enforcement measures to address the identified shortcomings: the inability to perform stack monitoring due to shutdowns during inspections, improper placement of the manual ambient monitoring station and lack of hazardous-waste authorisation for specific waste streams.
- Inspection dates: 4 August and 7 August.
- Monitoring issue: Stack emissions could not be measured because the plant was non-operational during both visits.
- Ambient station problem: Installed beneath tree canopy and close to structures, potentially skewing results.
- Hazardous waste: Generation of empty barrels and cotton rags without required authorisation.
| Date | Finding |
|---|---|
| 4 August | Plant shut; claimed breakdown; stack monitoring not possible |
| 7 August | Plant shut; inconsistent reasons for shutdown; monitoring station improperly sited |
Local implications and regulatory context
The CPCB’s observations touch on two central pillars of industrial environmental regulation: reliable emissions monitoring and proper hazardous-waste management. Stack emission monitoring provides direct, time-bound measurements of pollutants released during operations. If a plant is not running during inspections, regulators cannot independently verify emission performance at that time.
Similarly, ambient air monitoring stations must be sited according to guidelines so the measurements reflect representative local air quality rather than the micro‑environment beneath foliage or close to structures. The CPCB’s assessment that the manual station’s data "may not be representative" flags the need either to relocate the station or to supplement it with additional, properly sited automated monitoring to ensure accurate community-level readings.
Hazardous-waste authorisation is required to ensure that potentially harmful materials are stored, transported and disposed of in a manner that minimises risk to workers, neighbouring communities and the environment. The lack of authorisation for empty barrels and cotton rags indicates a compliance gap that HSPCB will be expected to address under the CTO.
The CPCB report has been forwarded to the NGT as part of the tribunal’s supervisory process. The HSPCB now faces the task of examining the CPCB findings and initiating enforcement or corrective actions under the consent conditions. The outcome will determine whether the plant must undertake infrastructural or operational changes, secure retroactive authorisations, or face other regulatory measures.
Residents and local stakeholders will be monitoring next steps closely, as enforcement decisions could affect plant operations and any mitigation measures put in place to protect local air quality and public health.
