Tata Chem Mithapur plant gets GPCB nod
Business Standard — November 5, 2003

Tata Chemicals has resumed operations at its edible salt manufacturing plant at Mithapur, on the outskirts of Jamnagar. This follows a certificate from the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) stating that the effluent from the plant was non-acidic and non-poisonous.

GPCB chairman K.V.Bhanujan said that, according to laboratory tests, the chemical drained from effluent storage tanks in the protected area of the Marine National Park was not acidic or poisonous, so it has not damaged the Marine National Park.

The state government has, however, directed Tata Chemicals to take enough preventive and precautionary measures to ensure that no such spill occurs in the future from the plant.

Highly placed sources said Tata Chemicals chief operating officer L. Mukundan had submitted an affidavit and assured the pollution control board that the company will construct a cement pond for effluent storage and clean the marine park for possible pollution.

However, Mukundan could not be contacted for his comments on the issue. Director of the Marine National Park, R.J.Asari said the complaint has been registered against the company under the clause No.29 and 32 of the Wild Life Protection Act 1972.

The actual damage can be assessed only when the chemical settles down and it may possibly damage the mangroves and benthic (a sort of sea grass).

“The chemical slurry is spread across 150 acres and we have sent the specimens of soil and mangroves to the state pollution control board,” he said. Last month, following a chemical spill from the Tata Chemicals plant, it was alleged that the marine health in the coast was badly affected.

Four employees were suspended by the company. Following protests from non-government organisations, the government had started enquiries in the incident.

The GPCB had ordered the closure of the soda ash plant of Tata Chemicals on October 22, following a complaint from the Marine Natural Park Authority.