Impact of Magh Mela on Indian Paper Mills, 50 Paper Mills will remain 'shut down' during Magh Mela

50 Paper Mills will remain 'shut down' during Magh Mela
Ghaziabad, 21 December:
With barely a few days left for the commencement of
month-long Magh Mela on Sangam banks, the quality and quantity of water in the
Ganga has once again become a major cause for concern for the devotees and
administration alike.
After the strictness of National Green Tribunal (NGT), Uttar
Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has issued the instruction to all
western Utter Pradesh’s paper mills to stop production for the six important
‘holy dip’ dates. The authorities are concerned by the amount of effluents
discharged by Paper Mills which are disposed in the river and get mixed in the
Ganga downstream. The effluents of tanneries do add up to the pollution level
which disturbs the BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand) level.
UPPCB has issued the
guideline to shut down the production of Paper mills for ‘one day’ before the
five days of ‘holy dip’ as discharge takes five days’ time to reach Sangam.
UPPCB may allow operating ‘Zero Discharge’ mills or having ETP system under
valid norm and condition. The decision will impact to around 50 paper mills in
the belt. “We may collectively (50 Paper Mills) lose 50,000 tonnes paper
production loss due to six ‘Holy Dip’ dates. UPPCB has instructed us not to
discharge polluted water especially the colour water into the river. Production
shut down will cause Rs. 100 Cr tax revenue loss to Government. We are not
happy with this decision as we have ‘turbine’ in our factory that cost us Rs.
10 to 15 lakhs for one day shut down.†Mr. Vinod Kumar, Director, Paswara
Papers Ltd told to The Pulp and Paper Times.
Magh Mela is an important annual Hindu ritual held on the
banks of Sangam (Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati) in Prayag (modern day Allahabad),
Uttar Pradesh. In 2018, Magh Mela begins on January 2 and ends on February 13.
Magh Mela is also known as mini Kumbh Mela and is held in Magh month as per
traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India. The main ritual involves
taking a holy dip (bathing) at Sangam on auspicious dates. It must be noted
here that Magh Mela is not confined to the Magh month and the important bathing
dates are spread over a period of 45 days
Web Title: Impact of Magh Mela on Indian Paper Mills 50 Paper Mills will remain shut down during Magh Mela