Pollution being caused by stone crushing
Relaxation of siting criteria for establishing Stone Crusher will legalise the ongoing pollution.
THE PRESENT status of stone crusher scenario in Orissa reflects the gloomy and lawlessness situation promoting the rapid growth of stone crusher units. Though it seems a small investment project but from pollution point of view it is categorized as highly polluting unit by state pollution control board.
It poses major threat to adjacent villages and the workers. Mostly these units work as unorganized sector without any legal compliance and social responsibilities. As per the information in proceedings of meeting dated 09/11/2009 taken by the chief secretary to discuss revision of siting criteria for stone crushers operating in the state that nearly 1572 stone crusher units are operating in Orissa.
Out of this 842 are not meeting the siting criteria and are liable for closure which is more than half of the total units’ operating. In February 2007 nearly 650 units were given show cause notice for non-compliance of siting criteria. So it is high time to fix accountability over the units for better management of environment as well as the health of workers.
It is found that 260 crusher units are found as defaulter for noncompliance of siting criteria in Jajpur district alone followed by khurda with 87 non-complied units. It is mandatory for all the existing and proposed stone crusher units to obtain consent to operate from the Orissa State Pollution Control Board under section 21 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981.
The stone crushers are required to meet the following norms regarding the siting of the unit The Forest and Environment Department order as published in Orissa Gazette Notification dated 13th May 1998 issued under section 5 of Environment Protection Act 1986 read as follows
Siting norms for stone crushers by Government of Orissa.
• All stone crusher units are to confirm to the pollution control measures and emission standards notified by Ministry of Environment and Forests from time to time
• No Stone Crusher should be allowed within 1 km of a town or a village.
• No Stone Crusher should be allowed within 1 km of a town or a village.
• No Stone Crusher should be located within ½ km from National and State highways.
• Distance between two Stone Crusher units should be at least ½ km
• Stone crushers which are in the aforesaid prohibited land shall shift to other area with in six month from the date of publication of this notification in Orissa Gazette.
• Distance between two Stone Crusher units should be at least ½ km
• Stone crushers which are in the aforesaid prohibited land shall shift to other area with in six month from the date of publication of this notification in Orissa Gazette.
In the year 2006, the Government of Orissa came out with an order in Orissa Gazette dated August 1, 2006 amending the earlier order and omitting the expression “Distance between two Stone Crusher units should be atleast ½ km”. So after this order restriction of distance between two stone crushers is no more in force. In addition to the siting criteria, the Units have to comply to the following pollution control measures prescribed by Orissa State Pollution Control Board.
• Unit shall provide wind breaking walls of adequate height both in downwind and upwind directions.
• Metalled roads should be constructed within the premises.
• Regular cleaning and wetting of the ground within the premises.
• The unit shall provide adequate dust containment cum suppression system at all potential dust generating points to minimize fugitive dust emission.
• The stone dust generated shall be handled properly to minimize fugitive dust emission
• The unit shall develop thick green belt along the periphery of the premises.
• The suspended particulate matter measured between 3 to 10 meters from any process shall not exceed 600 microgram/m3.
• The unit shall abide by Environment Protection Act 1986 and Rules framed there under.
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981:
• Metalled roads should be constructed within the premises.
• Regular cleaning and wetting of the ground within the premises.
• The unit shall provide adequate dust containment cum suppression system at all potential dust generating points to minimize fugitive dust emission.
• The stone dust generated shall be handled properly to minimize fugitive dust emission
• The unit shall develop thick green belt along the periphery of the premises.
• The suspended particulate matter measured between 3 to 10 meters from any process shall not exceed 600 microgram/m3.
• The unit shall abide by Environment Protection Act 1986 and Rules framed there under.
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981:
Section 19 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, empowers the State Government after consultation with the State Pollution Control Board to declare any area or areas within the State as pollution control area or areas for the purpose of the Act.
Accordingly, for effective control of air pollution in the state, the entire state was declared as “Air Pollution Control Area” vide notification number 11480/F&E, dt. 18.07.2002. Section 21 of the Act restricts establishment and operation of any industrial plant in an air pollution control area without the previous consent of the State Pollution Control Board. However, under the proviso to Sub-section (1) of Section 21 a person operating any industrial plant in any air pollution control area immediately before the commencement of Section 9 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 1987, for which no consent was necessary prior to such commencement, has been allowed to continue for a period of three months from such commencement or till disposal of the application before the Pollution Control Board if the same has been made within three months.
Proviso to Sub-section (2) of Section 21 provides that where any person immediately before the declaration of any area as an air pollution control area operates in such area any industrial plant, such person shall make the application under that Sub-Section within such period (being not less than three months from the date of such declaration), as may be prescribed, and where such person makes such application, he shall be deemed to be operating such industrial plant with the consent of the State Board until the consent applied for has been refused.
In the mean time, the State Government declared in the year 2002 vide Notification dated 18th of July, 2002 issued by the Forest and Environment Department the entire State of Orissa as the air pollution control area for the purpose of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Notice to show cause as to why the unit should not be closed down for not following the siting criteria was issued and in some cases order for closing down the units on that ground was passed.
In a recent review meeting dated 09/11/2009, chaired by Chief Secretary of Orissa, the following decisions were taken and will be operative after notified inThe Gazette of Orissa.
i. Siting criteria for distance from National Highway and State Highway may be reduced from 500 mtrs to 200 mtrs.
ii. No stone crusher shall be allowed to be established with in a distance of 500metre from established legal habitations, educational institutions, hospitals, courts, public offices etc. new habitations coming up after establishment of stone crusher may not amount to violation of the siting criteria.
iii. Stone crushers shall not be allowed to operate with in 1km of Municipal and NAC area.
iv. The unit shall abide by Environment Protection Act 1986 and Rules framed there under.
v. All the District Collectors may be instructed by the revenue department to physically close down the stone crushers violating the revised siting criteria with in 3months.
vi. Permission for temporary stone crushers exclusively for construction of NH/SH may be allowed during construction period.
vii. A green belt of tall large foliage trees may be created along the boundary of the crusher units.
[i]Environmental Problems in Stone Crushers
ii. No stone crusher shall be allowed to be established with in a distance of 500metre from established legal habitations, educational institutions, hospitals, courts, public offices etc. new habitations coming up after establishment of stone crusher may not amount to violation of the siting criteria.
iii. Stone crushers shall not be allowed to operate with in 1km of Municipal and NAC area.
iv. The unit shall abide by Environment Protection Act 1986 and Rules framed there under.
v. All the District Collectors may be instructed by the revenue department to physically close down the stone crushers violating the revised siting criteria with in 3months.
vi. Permission for temporary stone crushers exclusively for construction of NH/SH may be allowed during construction period.
vii. A green belt of tall large foliage trees may be created along the boundary of the crusher units.
[i]Environmental Problems in Stone Crushers
Sources of Emissions
All quarrying and stone processing operations including surface mining, crushing, screening, material handling and transfer operations are potential sources of particulate emissions. These sources may be categorised as either process sources or fugitive dust sources. Process sources include those sources for which emissions are amenable to capture and subsequent control.
Fugitive dust sources generally involve the re-entrainment or settled dust by wind or machine movement. Factors effecting emissions from either source category include the type, quantity and the moisture content of the rock processed, the type of equipment and operating practices employed as well as topographical and climatic factors. The quantity of emissions depends on various aspects like climatic conditions, moisture in the soil, speed of the vehicle, frequency of the vehicles etc.
Generally such emissions can be controlled to a great extent by spraying water on these roads intermittently.
Emission during Crushing Operation
During crushing operation, generation of particulate emissions is inherent and the emissions are most apparent at crusher feed and discharge points. The greater the reduction in size during subsequent crushing stages from primary, secondary to tertiary crushing, the higher the emissions. Primary jaw crushers produce more dust than comparable gyratory crushers because of the bellows effect of jaw and because gyratory crushers are usually choke-fed, thus minimising the open spaces from which dust may be emitted. For subsequent reduction stages, cone or roller type crushers produce more fines as a result of attrition and consequently generate more dust.
Emissions During screening
In the screening section, the mixture of stones is classified and separated according to size. Generally the screening efficiency is considered to be in the range of 60 to 75%. The screening equipments commonly used include grizzlies, shaking screens, vibrating screens and revolving screens. Although screening may be performed wet or dry, dry screening is the most common. Dust is emitted from screening operations as a result of the agitation of dry stone.
The screening of fines produces higher emissions than the screening of coarse sizes. Also screens agitated at large amplitudes and high frequency emit more dust than those operated at small amplitudes and low frequencies.
Occupational Health Hazard
• People working in the stone crushers are prone to silicosis five times than an ordinary person.
• Apart from silicosis the workers are also prone to Cancer and Lungs diseases.
• It is found that morbidity and mortality rate is high among these classes of workers.
Safety Measures
• Using respirators during working period.
• Regular sprinkling in the site.
• Regular Health Checkup of the workers.
• Using of containments for holding the dusts.
• People working in the stone crushers are prone to silicosis five times than an ordinary person.
• Apart from silicosis the workers are also prone to Cancer and Lungs diseases.
• It is found that morbidity and mortality rate is high among these classes of workers.
Safety Measures
• Using respirators during working period.
• Regular sprinkling in the site.
• Regular Health Checkup of the workers.
• Using of containments for holding the dusts.
Authorities to redress grievances of pollution due to stone crushers
• First Local authority that may be Grampanchayat or NAC or Municipalities basing on the location where the unit is situated. Since local authority is the first authority who gives no objection to the unit.
• Revenue inspector and Tehsildar are the authority who gives site clearance to the units. So Objections can be filed before such authorities in case of noncompliance of siting criterias.
• One can lodge complain before the authority of District Industry Office.
• State Pollution Control Board who issues NOC to such units and can give show cause notice in case of non-compliance of environmental and siting norms. Even it can give direction for closure of the unit in case of noncompliance to the show cause notice under section 31A of Air Act 1981.
• One can lodge FIR in nearest police station under section 268 of Indian Penal Code, which deals with public nuisance.
• Affected person can file a Civil suit in the nearest civil court for proper compensation to the damages.
• Revenue inspector and Tehsildar are the authority who gives site clearance to the units. So Objections can be filed before such authorities in case of noncompliance of siting criterias.
• One can lodge complain before the authority of District Industry Office.
• State Pollution Control Board who issues NOC to such units and can give show cause notice in case of non-compliance of environmental and siting norms. Even it can give direction for closure of the unit in case of noncompliance to the show cause notice under section 31A of Air Act 1981.
• One can lodge FIR in nearest police station under section 268 of Indian Penal Code, which deals with public nuisance.
• Affected person can file a Civil suit in the nearest civil court for proper compensation to the damages.
The Executive Magistrate is also under obligation to take cognizance of such public nuisance under section 133 of CrPC.
Recommendation: Relaxation of siting criteria will legalise the illegal actions of stone crushers and will invite air pollution closer to habitation. In most of the states the siting criteria remains still harder and because the units are not complying to the siting criteria, change in siting criteria to suit the units will not yield in betterment of environment. Also the previous action of OSPCB in issuing closure notice and sealing of the unit was upheld by Orissa High Court in its order dated 27th January 2009, hence the Pollution Control Board should not make its stand weaker by further diluting the siting criteria.
Recommendation: Relaxation of siting criteria will legalise the illegal actions of stone crushers and will invite air pollution closer to habitation. In most of the states the siting criteria remains still harder and because the units are not complying to the siting criteria, change in siting criteria to suit the units will not yield in betterment of environment. Also the previous action of OSPCB in issuing closure notice and sealing of the unit was upheld by Orissa High Court in its order dated 27th January 2009, hence the Pollution Control Board should not make its stand weaker by further diluting the siting criteria.
it is a mandatory provison to take no Objection Certificate from Panchayats and Local bodies as per the State Pollution Control Board guideline.So i cant say that Rule is there but it is compulsory for all units to take NoC from Panchayats and local bodies. Certainly i will try to find out if any rule is there.
.Zero Pollution by Stone Crushing industries can be achieved by applying latest technology as it is being done in western and europian countries. Authorities, Public and Courts should insist on applying latest technology instead of closing the stone crushers because closing of stone crushers in turn affect the construction industry and as well as the poor labourers who are much dependant on these industries for their livelihood. The closure will also indirectly affect Construction Industry ,Cement Industry,Steel Industries . The closure also affects the self employed stone crusher owners /Enterprenuers and ultimately Our national Economy and increase in unemployment may result in social and law disorders.
.stone crusser unit are not a big polluted things, so distance is not matter because its not a blast things,its only polluted dust,which we stop in spray water in spinkler.so sitting criteria is not matter only pollution control.
.stone crusser unit are not a big polluted things, so distance is not matter because its not a blast things,its only polluted dust,which we stop in spray water in spinkler.so sitting criteria is not matter only pollution control.
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