Latest news with #StateEnvironmentImpactAssessmentAuthority
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Environmentalist raise concern about increasing plastic waste in urban areas
1 2 3 P atna: With the state progressing on the path of economic development, rapid urbanisation, marked by population growth, has also given rise to a serious environmental concern. While air and water pollution are nowhere to go, environmentalists, ahead of World Environment Day, observed on June 5, have raised concern about an increase in plastic waste at an alarming rate in the state. Bihar State Pollution Control Board's former chairman Ashok Kumar Ghosh said India's per capita plastic consumption has grown to approximately 11kg per year, and this is expected to rise further with increasing industrialisation and consumerism. This year's theme 'Beat the plastic pollution' assumes significance with environmentalists raising concern about urban areas, where the demand for single-use plastics has risen drastically, notwithstanding the govt ban on its use. If current trends continue, by 2050 the plastic industry could account for 20% of the world's total oil consumption as according to Ghosh, more than 99% of plastics are produced from chemicals derived from oil, natural gas and coal — all non-renewable resources. He said plastic generally degrades in about 500 to 1,000 years, though we may never know its actual degradation time, as this material has been in use only since the last century. Plastic discarded in soil or water bodies physically break to form microplastics and nanoplastics, depending on their size. They enter food chain and finally in human body, leading to many health issues, including cancer. During its manufacture, many hazardous chemicals are emitted that can lead to several other dreadful diseases in humans as well as animals. Ethylene oxide, xylene and benzene are some of the chemical toxins present in plastic, which can have hazardous effects on environment. Patna University geology teacher and former chairman of State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Atul Aditya Pandey, said that the menace of plastic has now reached even to the depth of ocean basin. There are reports of microorganisms being adversely affected by the micro plastics. "Nowadays even cow milk is found to contain microplastics. Human health is directly affected by the ever increasing use of plastics. A firm administrative control on production and distribution of plastics and mass awareness campaign can only beat the plastic pollution," he said. Environmentalist Mehta Nagendra Singh said that India's waste management infrastructure has not evolved to handle the growing volume of plastic waste. An estimated 77% of the waste generated in Indian cities is dumped into open landfills without being treated. Only 60% of the plastic waste generated is recycled, and this is often done inefficiently in the informal sector, he said. To check the use of plastics, Singh suggested that people should be motivated to start using paper or cloth bags for shopping and other purposes as much as possible. Use of omnipresent plastic bottles for drinking water must be discouraged at public meetings or markets, he added.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Potash exploration: Barinder Kumar Goyal accuses Centre of discrimination
Chandigarh: Alleging discrimination by the Centre, mining and geology minister Barinder Kumar Goyal on Tuesday said Punjab was facing "unjustifiable" treatment regarding the development of its valuable potash said this mineral resource could bring tremendous economic and agricultural benefits to both the state and the nation. "Despite the discovery of substantial potash reserves near the Muktsar and Abohar regions, an area bordering Rajasthan where similar deposits have been found, the Union govt has consistently withheld necessary approvals for further exploration and development," claimed minister said he was unsuccessfully seeking time for a meeting with Union mines minister G Kishan Reddy for two and a half months. "Potash is a crucial mineral that is not found elsewhere in the country. Currently, India imports 100% of its potash requirements, which significantly depletes our foreign exchange reserves," he was addressing a press conference with Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema following the launch of a portal on obtaining mining said: "While 158 drilling sites have been established in Rajasthan's adjacent area to determine the location, quality, and quantity of potash deposits, merely nine drilling sites have been permitted in Punjab. This glaring disparity was formally raised during a recent All-India Mining and Geology Ministers' Conclave in Odisha."During his field visit to the area, Goyal dispelled widespread misconceptions among residents who feared their lands would be permanently acquired. He explained that potash extraction would occur approximately 450 meters below the surface, with minimal disruption to agricultural activities above. "The test drilling required only a negligible portion of land. As per a study, by drilling at one place, potash can be extracted from an area of 25 acres beneath the earth," he launching the official portal – – for mining permissions, Cheema said for landowner mining sites (LMS) and crusher mining sites (CRMS) "the landowners can now seamlessly apply for mining permissions through a user-centric interface that prioritises accessibility and simplicity"."The applications will be processed with unprecedented expediency, ensuring that eligible landowners can commence legitimate mining operations without procedural impediments," said said: "The simplified application forms minimise documentation requirements, focusing only on essential credentials, including landowner details, land particulars, and mining proposals. Following document verification, the department of mines and geology will issue letters of intent (LOI) to eligible applicants.""Subsequently, applicants must secure mandatory clearances, including environmental clearance from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority and consent to operate from the Punjab Pollution Control Board. Upon submission of all required clearances, a formal mining agreement will be executed, permitting commencement of mining activities in accordance with applicable regulations," he about the new mining policy, Cheema said: "The key highlight of the new policy is that it empowers the landowners. Under this revamped framework, landowners will now have the direct right to mine sand and gravel on their own land without the need for auctions. Furthermore, the new mining policy incorporates robust technological measures to eradicate illegal mining activities with the mandatory deployment of cameras and radio frequency identification surveillance across mining sites and transportation routes."MSID:: 120938274 413 |
Business Standard
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Laxmi Organic receives Environmental Clearance for its upcoming synthetic organic chemicals unit in Dahej
Laxmi Organic Industries has received Environmental Clearance (EC) from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Gujarat constituted under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, for its upcoming Synthetic Organic Chemicals Manufacturing site at Dahej, Village Jolve and Vadadala, District Bharuch, Gujarat. Powered by Capital Market - Live News
Business Upturn
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Laxmi Organic shares in focus after receiving environmental clearance for new Dahej site
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on May 2, 2025, 11:33 IST Shares of Laxmi Organic Industries Ltd may see investor attention after the company announced it has received Environmental Clearance (EC) from the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Gujarat, for its upcoming synthetic organic chemicals manufacturing facility at Dahej, Gujarat. The new plant, to be set up in Village Jolve and Vadadala, District Bharuch, marks a major milestone in the company's expansion strategy. The facility will support the manufacturing of essential and speciality chemical products and is equipped with advanced safety protocols. In a press release, Managing Director and CEO Dr. Rajan Venkatesh stated, 'We are excited to announce that our upcoming site at Dahej, Gujarat, has received the Environmental Clearance, which marks a significant stepping stone in the commissioning of the facility in line with our guided timeline. This project will offer our customers a wide range of product portfolio across Essentials and Specialities chemicals.' The company plans to leverage this project to increase capacity, introduce new products, and reinforce its global competitiveness through innovation and customer-centricity. This development is expected to play a key role in driving Laxmi Organic's next growth cycle. Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
SC okays consideration of delayed applications for green clearance
1 2 Jaipur: In a major relief to about 4,800 small-scale mining leaseholders in Rajasthan, Supreme Court Thursday modified its earlier order of Nov 12, 2024, and permitted consideration of their pending reappraisal applications by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority ( SEIAA ), even though these were filed beyond the three-week time window initially allowed by the Supreme Court. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar passed the order in a batch of matters while allowing the impleadment plea and intervention of Rajasthan Granite Mining Association. On Nov 12 last year, the court had extended the deadline for completion of reappraisal by SEIAA to March 31 this year. "The delay in submission of these applications was not due to fault of the applicants but occurred due to the delayed reconstitution of SEIAA in Rajasthan, which only came into existence on Dec 10 last year—after the deadline had already lapsed. Some applications were declined for consideration due to their filing after the three-week time given by us," noted the court. Additional advocate general Shiv Mangal Sharma, representing the state govt, submitted that the state had no objection if the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) or SEIAA decided to consider these applications on merits. The court accepted the submission and clarified that the applications submitted beyond the three-week cut-off may also be considered by the authorities. It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court has already extended interim protection till May 26, allowing mining operations to continue where environmental clearances were granted by District Level Authorities.
