Says 84% of stone crushers identified by NPCB operating without renewing their expired CFO
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 1
Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its Audit report have identified unmonitored operation of stone crushers and lack of sewage treatment facilities as two environmental hazards causing unabated air and water pollution in the State and thereby posing serious health threats to citizens.
The CAG Audit took care to mention in its report that Silicosis, a lung disease, caused by breathing in tiny bits of silica, a mineral that is part of sand, rock and mineral ores such as quartz emitted from the stone crushing units affects the workers and resident exposed to silica dust.
Over time, exposure to silica particles causes scarring in the lungs, which harm the ability to breathe. There is not cure for silicosis, but it can only be prevented, it further informed.
According to the Audit, 90 stone crushers (84%) out of 107 identified by the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) were operating without renewing their expired Consent for Operation (CFO) from the Board.
As per the guidelines issued by the NPCB in 2010, the stone crushing units should have valid license and should not be located close to residential areas.
Further, the crushing machine is to be surrounded with wind breaking walls, growing of trees (green belt) along the periphery and labourers should be provided with protective gears including mask and must undergo regular health check-ups. Any stone crushing operating without valid consent shall attract legal actions as per Section 5 of the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, it stated.
However, the Audit reported that there was no effective monitoring by the Board on compliance of the standards for operation of the stone crushers in the State as prescribed in the guidelines.
It also observed that the Board did not take any preventive measures on the stone crushers located near the residential areas nor did it conduct regular inspections of the stone crushers.
On the reply from the Board that it was inspecting and issuing guidelines to the stone crushing units by publishing advertisement on the awareness on Silicosis disease caused by pollution from stone crushers in the newspapers and through distribution of pamphlets, the audit termed it as ‘not acceptable’ and ‘insufficient.’
It recommended that the Board should consider taking legal actions as per the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986. The CAG Audit also expressed concern that no Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) has been set up in Nagaland and there was no information relating to estimated waste water generated per day with the Board or the Municipalities. The NPCB replied that it had highlighted the pollution level of River Dhansiri in Dimapur to the Nagaland Government in 2011 and had suggested to take up a STP. However, no action has been taken to set up the same, the Board stated.
