The di-ammonia plant (DAP) of Oswal Chemicals and Fertilisers Ltd at Paradip will be closed for causing environmental pollution. A joint inspection team (JIT) of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, Central Pollution Control Board and the Orissa State Pollution Control Board have ordered the closure. The JIT has opined that unless the company sets up a fluorine recovery unit it cannot manufacture phosphoric acid.

The extent of the damage caused due to fluoride contamination will be ascertained and the cost of this will be borne by the company.

The company will be issued closure orders if it does not make arrangements to store and handle gypsum, have the required effluent treatment plants and use methods to segregate waste water from storm water.

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India Business Insight

June 18, 2002

High-Power Panel for Closure of Oswal Fertilizer Plant

A high-power committee has recommended closure of the Abhay Oswal group’s DAP fertiliser plant near Paradip port in Orissa. This is in view of the pollution caused by the plant. The Government of India set up the committee in Feb 2002 following allegations that the plant had not taken adequate environment safety measures, leading to pollution of the Mahanadi river into which the plant’s effluents are discharged. The committee, in its report, has said that the pollution caused by the plant might damage crops and cause incurable diseases in human beings and domestic animals.

It has suggested that the plant should not be allowed to operate till the company took comprehensive environmental safety measures. The committee consists of experts from the Ministry of Forest and Environment of the Government of India and the Pollution Control Board of the Government and Orissa.

Copyright 2002 Financial Times Information

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