Illegal distilleries pose serious health, environment hazards

They have alleged blatant violation of  environment laws in the manufacturing and storage of spirits.

“The region is witnessing rampant violation of Environment Protection Act (1986), Environment Protection Rules, Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules and Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, but the authorities are silent.

 If immediate steps are not taken, it may lead to massive explosions like in Ghaziabad, Sitapur and Meerut,” said Krishankant Singh, a Noida-based activist.Violations are rampant even after the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) judgment, ordering sugar mills, which do not have the requisite Explosives Licence, to stop alcohol production.

 This is likely to hit the sugar industry and India’s ambitious Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP), which involves mixing 5 per cent ethanol in petrol by state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs). 

In the order, the NGT had said that production should be stopped with immediate effect until distilleries obtain the relevant licences. 

“No manufacturer will produce absolute alcohol without seeking an appropriate permission from the Ministry of Commerce, Chief Controller Explosives and other Authorities, in accordance with law,” the NGT had ordered.

“Despite the NGT’s order, the distilleries do not have proper safety precautions in place to check on-site accidents,” said Salik Shafique, counsel for Social Action for Forest and Environment (SAFE). 

He added that several people have lost their lives in accidents at distilleries in NCR, western and central parts of UP – the country’s largest sugar producer – in the past couple of years. Such reports have even come from Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and key cities of NCR.

Activists have also questioned the Central Pollution Control Board and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation for not strictly enforcing laws in this regard. Two weeks have been given for all parties to reply. To meet the 5 per cent blending demand, the OMCs need 133 crore litres of ethanol and for 10 per cent blending, they would need 266 crore litres for the sugar year 2015-16 (October-September). 

Since ethanol made from grains is not allowed to be produced in India, OMCs are dependent on its procurement from sugar mills, for which the green fuel is a by-product. India also does not allow import of ethanol.

Office-bearers of the Indian Sugar Manufacturing Association (ISMA) said they were aware of the NGT’s directive and violations taking place across the country. The have been preparing their reply for the next hearing scheduled on July 7. 

“We have full faith in the NGT, which aims to protect the environment. We are hopeful that once we produce the facts and figures before the green tribunal, including the renewable biofuel and its benefits, some relief will be given to us and it will be ensured that the ethanol blending programme is continued," said Rajneesh Agrawal, general secretary of ISMA. 

However, he failed to cite the steps taken in compliance to the court order.