The Rajasthan Pollution Control Board (RPCB) had ordered the shutdown of more than 800 textile units in Balotara in Barmer district for releasing effluents into Luni River till the 18MLD reverse osmosis (RO) plant begins operations.
The board has also taken serious note of the delay in starting of 18MLD reverse osmosis (RO) set up to process the effluents draining into the river. The board has warned strict action will be taken against the units that flout the order. Though the RO plant is almost ready, the carelessness of the common effluent treatment plant (CETP) trust has led to a delay in starting the plant. Though the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had also ordered a strict ban on discharging effluents into the river, it failed to prevent the units from draining pollutants into the water body. Looking at the situation, the RPCB issued the order on September 13 to CETP to stop textile units from operating.
According to information, the CETP trust itself was not following the orders of the NGT and the Pradushan Nivaran Evum Paryavaran Sankarshan Samiti, informed RPCB chairperson Veenu Gupta. Samiti secretary Om Prakash Soni said if CETP fully abided by the orders of NGT, the problem of pollution could have been solved to a great extent.
Textile units in Balotara have been functioning for the last 40 years but have done precious little to save the environment. RPCB member Anand Mohan said the board took serious note of the carelessness of the CETP trust by not starting the RO plant which led the textile units to release polluted water into the river.
He said the CETP trust had told the board that the RO plant was ready but when checked it was not operational. In this regard, letters were written to the CETP to start the plant on January 27, March 24, and April 15. Mohan said the plant was almost ready and could be made operational in 2-4 days if they wanted.
