THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Central Pollution Control Board gave orders to shut down Travancore Titanium Products Ltd citing poor effluent treatment system. The company received the order by post from CPCB’s regional office in Bengaluru on Monday.
The order came in the wake of complaints regarding pumping the waste outside instead to the treatment plant inside. A visit by CPCB officers to verify the complaints found high acid levels in sand outside the company.
The officials of the PSU and the Industries Department said CPCB neither served a notice nor asked for an explanation before the closure orders. They said it would be impractical to close down a chemical factory at such a short notice.
Office of A C Moideen, the Industries Minister, said the department would file an appeal to review the order. The company produces titanium dioxide, a key ingredient for making paints.