In a decisive crackdown on industrial pollution, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has ordered the immediate closure of four units in Surat involved in the unauthorised disposal of hazardous chemical waste into the city's drainage system. The action follows the busting of a clandestine dumping racket in the Bamroli area earlier this week.
The Midnight Inspection and the Uncovered Racket
Acting on a tip-off, GPCB teams conducted a late-night inspection in the Bamroli area on Monday. What they uncovered was a well-organized operation for illegal waste disposal. Approximately 50 tonnes of chemical waste, transported in two tankers from industrial units in Bharuch, had been deliberately dumped into the municipal drainage pipeline.
The investigation swiftly traced the origin of the waste. The calcium chloride slurry was sourced from two manufacturing units: OM Chloride in GIDC Panoli and OPJ Chem Pvt Ltd located in Dahej GIDC. The probe revealed that two local Surat-based entities, Uma Enterprise and Maa Enterprise in Bamroli, facilitated the entire illegal dumping process on the ground.
Closure Orders and Heavy Penalties
On Thursday, the GPCB issued closure directives with immediate effect against all four involved units. In a significant financial penalty, the two city-based units, Uma Enterprise and Maa Enterprise, were jointly fined Rs 25 lakh as Environmental Damage Compensation (EDC).
To ensure complete cessation of operations, the GPCB has also instructed the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) to disconnect the water and drainage connections to these premises. This multi-pronged action aims to cripple the operational ability of the offenders.
Modus Operandi and Ongoing Investigation
The GPCB's expanded inquiry peeled back the layers of this illicit network. Investigators found that the chemical waste was transported and disposed of unlawfully. To evade regulatory scrutiny, the movements of the hazardous material were allegedly shown on paper as regular product sales.
This false documentation was a deliberate ploy to conceal the true nature of the material and bypass the strict controls governing the handling and disposal of industrial waste. The GPCB's investigation is ongoing to identify and act against all other players in this transport and disposal network.
This case highlights the serious environmental threats posed by such illegal activities, where toxic waste can contaminate water sources and soil, posing long-term health risks. The GPCB's swift action underscores a stricter vigil against industrial pollution in Gujarat.
