PUDUCHERRY: The government-owned Puducherry Agro Service and Industries Corporation (PASIC) is one of several organisations that have failed to comply with directions issued by the Puducherry Pollution Control Committee (PPCC) in recent months, a government report released on Monday revealed.According to the Annual Environment Survey report, brought out by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment and the PPCC, the pollution control body had directed PASIC to apply for air and water consent as well as hazardous waste authorisation for their mineral water manufacturing unit at Karuvadikuppam. PASIC has still not complied with the direction which had been issued on September 30, 2010 and further action was under process.The PPCC has issued notices and directions to 37 industries and organisations, including government bodies such as PWD and PASIC over the past financial year. The PWD which was directed to apply for water consent for its existing as well as proposed sewage treatment plant has complied.Shashun Chemicals and Drugs Limited, Kalapet is yet to comply with a PPCC directive, issued on March 31, 2011, asking it to prepare a quantitive risk analysis report, on-site and off-site emergency plan to improve the environmental monitoring and solid waste disposal while RK Industries, Kannikoil, an engineering workshop causing noise pollution was directed, on Jan 24, 2011, to shift to another location within six months but has not complied.On the bright side, the Karaikal Port, which faced protests from locals because of the coal dust pollution caused by it, has initiated action following a notice served by PPCC directing it to comply with the provisions of an air consent order banning the handling of coal for having failed to adopt suitably stringent measures to control coal dust at source itself.The port is erecting dust separation nets along the boundary wall (Nagore side) and installing additional sprinkling system around coal plots which would be completed this month. In addition, construction of a mechanised coal handling system at berths 3 and 4 and back up area is in progress and is scheduled to be completed by December 2011. Besides the bulk material movement through lorries is permitted only after ensuring that the material is covered and tied down with thick canvas or suitable material. Casuarinas have been planted all along the shoreline to act as wind barriers with around 5,000 trees in the port premises. The PPCC had also stopped the functioning of a Brass Lamp Manufacturing Unit at No 8, Pandian Sandhu, Tippu Sahib Street, an unauthorised unit in a residential area causing air pollution. Even Nuvodaya Chemicals has been closed permanently after directions were issued by the PPCC to comply with air and water pollution standards. Santosh Paper boards, Madagadipet Palayam, Thirubuvanai was issued notice on Feb 23, 2011 for operating the unit without valid consent, while Metco Roof Private Limited had stopped its unauthorised sand blasting operations. The government of Puducherry is going green, but not with envy. Close on the heels of the World Environment Day, it is going in for a makeover wherein 25 per cent of its buildings will be classified as green buildings. In fact, work on the first public green building in the UT will begin as soon as possible, said chief secretary R Chandramohan.Speaking at a seminar on the green building concept, organised by the department of science, technology and environment as part of World Environment Day celebrations on Monday, he said that the concept of green buildings had not percolated down, though the government of India had come up with a national action plan. Some concessions in clearance by the town and country planning could encourage people to take up the concept of green buildings.Referring to the World Environment Day theme, ‘Forests: Nature at your service’, he said that Puducherry did not have a forest cover to speak of and hence at least the green buildings could be encouraged. Special secretary, environment, G Thevaneethi Dhas gave a keynote address on the concept of green buildings at the seminar coordinated by environmental scientist, DSTE N Ramesh. Prizes were awarded for various articles made from waste and disposed products. The articles were also put up on display. The annual environment survey report was released by the chief secretary.
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