Banswara Garments in Daman Fined Rs 1.47 Crore for Air Pollution

DAMAN : A garment manufacturing unit in Daman has been slapped with an environmental compensation of Rs 1.47 crore for alleged violations of air and water pollution control norms, exposing continued concerns over industrial emissions in the Union Territory.

The Pollution Control Committee (PCC), Daman, issued a closure order against Banswara Garments, a unit of Banswara Syntex Limited located in Kadaiya, on August 18. The action followed alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

According to the order, the company has been directed to deposit the environmental compensation through a demand draft. Its power connection will be restored only after payment of the imposed amount and compliance with the committee’s directions.

Officials said the unit had already been issued a notice around two months before the closure action but allegedly failed to undertake the required corrective measures.

The company has also been directed to install an adequately sized Air Pollution Control Device (APCD) and keep it operational throughout the production process. It must conduct regular emission monitoring, maintain records and ensure compliance with prescribed stack-emission standards.

“The unit has to ensure that the required pollution-control equipment remains operational throughout production and that emission standards are strictly followed,” officials said.

The action has also raised questions over why corrective measures were not taken earlier. According to the information provided, installation of an APCD costing around Rs 15 lakh could potentially have helped prevent continued pollution-related violations and the subsequent financial penalty.

The PCC is responsible for monitoring environmental compliance among industrial units in Daman and taking action against establishments violating prescribed standards.

The closure and compensation order underscores the increasing regulatory focus on industrial pollution and the requirement for manufacturing units to maintain effective pollution-control systems.