The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has acknowledged lapses in environmental compliance by certain industrial units in Singrauli, a district in Madhya Pradesh known for its dense concentration of coal-based and heavy industries.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh confirmed that at least one industrial unit in the region had failed to meet mandated environmental standards during inspection.
Accordingly, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) inspected three units in Singrauli under the Online Continuous Effluent/Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS). While two of the units were found compliant, one was initially non-compliant and subsequently issued a show-cause notice. After intervention, the unit corrected its deficiencies and returned to compliance.
Singrauli, also recognized as a Severely Polluted Area (SPA) under the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI), faces environmental stress due to the concentration of red and orange category industries, including thermal power plants and aluminium manufacturing units.
The government is implementing a multi-tiered strategy to combat pollution in the region, including real-time monitoring through OCEMS, Automatic alerts via SMS when pollutant levels exceed prescribed limits, Periodic inspections based on industry category—quarterly for high-pollution sectors, and annually or biennially for others, Action plans by the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) targeting pollution from power plants, coal fields, fly ash runoff, and untreated domestic wastewater.
Notably, Hindalco Industries Ltd. and Mahan Energen Ltd. were among the inspected facilities. Hindalco’s Mahan unit was found non-compliant during a 2017 inspection but met standards after corrective measures. More recent inspections in 2023 and 2024 confirmed compliance at other sites.
The Ministry emphasized that robust legal provisions under the Environment Protection Act, Water Act, and Air Act are being enforced, with inspections and penalties aimed at ensuring industries adhere to environmental standards.
Environmentalists have long criticized the ecological toll of unchecked industrial expansion in Singrauli. With growing public concern and legislative scrutiny, the government appears to be taking a more assertive approach to pollution control in one of India’s most industrialized and environmentally sensitive regions.
