All the plywood, block boards, flush doors, decorative laminates, decorative Veneers and other products that are listed as pollution causing manufacturing units would shut down for over a week from 4 to 10th November 2018. EPCA, Environment Pollutions (Prevention & Control) Authority for National Capital Region is directed that all Industries using Coal and Biomas as fuel (excluding thermal and waste Energy Plants) to remain closed in Delhi and NCR districts from November 4 to 10, 2018. Industries that use natural gas as fuel can continue to operate.
The Plywood and Laminates industries located in Delhi-NCR region like Delhi border, Sampla, Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, Noida, Greater Noida
etc were directed to stop production in the wake of rising pollution levels a week in November month for almost 7 days in compliance with directions issued by EPCA.
According to Ply Reporter’s ground feedback, ‘approximately 200 plus ply-boards, doors, decorative veneers and Laminates manufacturing units are situated in Delhi-NCR region, that are ordered to halt their production as majority are using their boilers based on coal and biomass.
Estimates indicate that there is a production loss in crores to these plants that can be counted as a significant contribution from this growing sector. Mr. Vikas Khanna, President, Delhi-NCR Plywood Manufacturers Association say to The Ply Reporter that the industry will strictly follow the EPCA directive to curb the pollution situation in this region.
The Delhi- NCR based plywood and laminates industry need a preventive course of action and switch to nonfossil fuel mode, include solar power and electricity options instead of using Petcoke or other polluting items in boiler. Plywood and Laminates industry said that they use fire wood and coal, which is not much hazardous for emission. The recent changes in NGT rule is now posing a challenge for entire ply and laminates manufacturing units of this area in future so shifting plants away from the marked territory is an imminent solution whether it comes sooner or later.