2 weeks Ago
Pune: MPCB 's regional officer JS Salunkhe on Friday served a notice on Mercedes Benz India for violation of environmental norms , almost a month after its chairman Siddhesh Kadam visited the auto major's Chakan plant. The MPCB (Maharashtra Pollution Control Board) officer, in his notice served on Thursday, stated that the company was found not complying with several environment norms and asked why the board should not recommend initiating legal action against the firm. MPCB has asked Mercedes Benz India officials to reply to the notice within 15 days.
In an official statement, Mercedes-Benz India said, "We have received a communication from MPCB today (Friday), after three weeks. We will go through it and respond as requested, and will be cooperating with the authorities." The pollution control board officials had visited the company's Chakan unit on Aug 23 and Sept 4.
The sub-regional officer of MPCB submitted in his report that clarifiers and centrifuge units of the effluent treatment plant (ETP) at the unit were not found operational. Besides, the multi-effect evaporator (MEE) and agitated thin film dryer (ATFD) were found not installed for the treatment of reverse osmosis (RO) reject within the stipulated time, as per the consent condition. Other violations highlighted by MPCB include non-compliance with the circular of the agency issued in June last year regarding retrofitting of the emission control device for in-use diesel-operated internal combustion engines or DG sets.
"Overall operation and maintenance of the ETP and the sewage treatment plant (STP) were not up to the mark," the MPCB notice stated. When contacted, Salunkhe confirmed that the notice was served to the company, but refused to share further details..
