Patiala, August 1, 2025
In a major drive against polluters, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has issued 136 Show Cause Notices to various industries, Municipal Corporations, Councils, and other Authorities having installed Online Continuous Emission/Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) on their Effluent Treatment Plant/ Sewage Treatment Plant/ Air Pollution Control Device, but are in offline mode.
In order to ensure the continuous operation of Pollution Control Devices installed by highly polluting industries, industries with significant pollution potential, Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), it is mandatory to install Online Continuous Emission/Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) and keep them operational in online mode round the clock. These systems help the Board to keep a close watch on the quality of wastewater and air emissions being discharged by these industries. Such entities had been asked regularly to keep monitoring systems on online mode. However, during recent verification drive conducted on the instructions of Chairperson Reena Gupta, it was found that many units had their monitoring systems offline or non-functional, which raises serious concerns about what is being released into the environment and taken the issue of offline devices seriously.
The Board has asked these industries and authorities concerned to give an explanation within three days regarding their failure to maintain the monitoring systems in online mode. It has been further mentioned in the Show cause notice that in case of non-compliance, appropriate action under the Environmental Laws would be taken against the violators. Further, the Board has also directed its Field Offices to keep a regular check on these systems and initiate immediate action in case of any violation is observed.
