Ghadi detergent maker served closure notice by GPCB

The closure notice to Gujarat’s largest single-location soda ash manufacturing plant came following a nudge by the Gujarat High Court to the GPCB after the sarpanch of coastal Kuranga village, who is also a farmer, moved the court.

The farmers of the coastal Kuranga village of Devbhumi Dwarka, led by Balubha Ker, the village sarpanch, had submitted complaints to the GPCB. In March 2023, Ker moved the High Court with a special civil application (SCA), alleging that the state pollution watchdog was not acting against the unit despite complaints. The unit, in a month, has the capacity to produce 40,300 metric tonnes of soda ash, which is used widely in manufacturing glass, detergents, and cosmetics.

In its closure notice, the GPCB cited inspection reports prepared after visits to the unit by officers authorised by the GPCB on October 5, and December 9. The closure notice stated that during the inspection visits, it was found that RSPL had not complied with its NOD of 2022 even as the company contended that the farmers were not cooperating.

The notice said that not only land and water pollution but air pollution was also noted. Anjana Patel has asked the RSPL to comply within 30 days with the directions in the November 2022 NOD, submit a time-bound action plan for its implementation, and submit a bank guarantee equivalent to 10 per cent of the estimated cost of activities mentioned in the action plan. If the company fails to comply with the order, its power connection will be cut and it will not be allowed to run and operate even on power generated by its 50 megawatt captive power plant or diesel-fired power generator sets. An email by The Indian Express to RSPL soliciting comment on the closure notice didn’t elicit a response.

The December 9 inspection at the RSPL plant and subsequent closure notice by GPCB followed the High Court’s direction to the state pollution watchdog on November 30 to carry out a fresh inspection at the unit. The court also directed the company and the petitioner to cooperate in the process. The HC also rejected the RSPL’s contention that Ker had no locus standi in the case.