Shillong, Dec 21: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has imposed fine of Rs 1.20 lakh against the M/s Star Cement Limited, Lumshnong in East Jaintia Hills district for violating the Water and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Acts of 1974 and 1981, respectively.
The cement company has also been given seven days time to reply to the show cause as to why action should not be taken for violating Consent to Operate.
“Now, therefore in view of the above the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board in exercise of the powers conferred upon under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 do hereby imposed an Environmental Compensation of Rs. 1,20,000/- (Rupees One Lakhs Twenty Thousand only) on M/s Star Cement Limited calculated on the basis of methodology developed by Central Pollution Control Board for Assessing Environmental Compensation and adopted by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board,” MSPCB member secretary Dr GH Chyrmang said in a letter to the Star Cement on December 19.
The compensation is to be paid within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of the direction. In case it fails to comply, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board has threatened to initiate proceedings against the company.
The action against the cement company was based on a complaint received on the violation of the Terms and Conditions of the Consent to Operate and the subsequent renewals by directly discharging emissions from its unit from December 16.
It was observed that Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (0CEMS) were found to be offline.
Meanwhile, the MSPCB has also issued a show cause notice to the cement company for violating the terms and conditions of the Consent to Operate. It has given the company 7 days to reply to the show cause.
 has imposed fine of Rs 1.20 lakh against the M/s Star Cement Limited, Lumshnong in East Jaintia Hills district for violating the Water and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Acts of 1974 and 1981, respectively.){kind=link}