India’s central pollution authority has ordered the shutdown of nearly 270 tyre pyrolysis plants in 19 States across the country on the grounds of “disregarding environmental norms and causing high levels of pollution.” These include notices to the state pollution control boards of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu, among others. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), who issued the order, said the pyrolysis plants were causing pollution and adversely affecting the health its workers; the CPCB also refers to a plea filed in the National Green Tribunal (NGT),which alleged that the inferior quality pyrolysis oil, pyrolysis gas, solid residue (char), carbon black and steel produced at these plants need to be banned to prevent irreversible environmental damage.
According to the Environment Protection Act 1986, CPCB Chairman SPS Parihar said directions have been issued to the various state boards to close down pyrolysis units in the state which are not compliant to consent conditions and standard operating procedures(SOP) of the Ministry of Environment.
The CPCB has asked the state boards to regularly monitor industries to ensure continued compliance of consent conditions and the SOP of the Ministry.
“You (state boards) are further directed that import of polluting hazardous waste material shall be strictly regulated as per Hazardous, and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules 2016,” it also said.