BANGALORE: The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has decided to come down strongly on Jigani Granite Industries Owners’ Welfare Association (JGIOWA), for not cleaning up their act, though the deadline ended in 2012. Last year, the Board had ordered a closure of over 130 units involved in granite cutting and polishing. These units were termed ‘irresponsible and unscientific’ for resorting to unauthorised transport and disposal of granite slurry on private and government land.
According to officials, these units were dumping granite slurry on roads, which was causing major health hazards.
However, with the deadline coming to an end, the KSPCB has asked the regional offices to submit a status report on these units.
A S Sadashiviah, chairman of KSPCB, said, “We have asked our regional officers to submit a report on the present status. Based on it, action will be taken. If they have failed to abide by the norms, they will be closed down. It is said that the association is following the measures prescribed by us.”
Sadashivaiah warned that no violations will be entertained. “We might set up an investigating team comprising higher officers to look into the report as their negligence will lead to major health hazards.”
KSPCB has kept its closure order at abeyance as the representatives of the JGIOWA had sought time till April to work on the changes that KSPCB had identified. In a meeting with KSPCB, they had filed an affidavit that they would come up with an action plan for scientific disposal of the slurry.
Though KSPCB has decided to come down hard on the association, the members of the association are trying to buy time. Ravi Naidu, secretary of the association said, “At present we are dumping our slurry at a site in Mahanthalingapura in Anekal. As the present dumping site is 75 per cent filled, we are asked to find new sites before April. The process of procuring sites for the disposal is on, and we will submit a report to KSPCB at the earliest.”