Agra divisional commissioner orders probe into Firozabad glass factories

AGRA/FIROZABAD: Agra divisional commissioner

K Rammohan Rao

has directed the UP Pollution Control Board regional office in

Firozabad

to conduct a probe into the basis on which 60 glass factories have increased their capacity over the years. The pollution control board has been directed to submit the report within one month after conducting an investigation in the matter.

A probe has been initiated against those bottle manufacturing factories which had shown an increase in production during a meeting conducted by the Taj Trapezium Zone Authority on January 7, 2015. According to an estimate, they had increased their capacity by as high as 50%.

The then divisional commissioner Pradeep Bhatnagar had halted the expansion as well as opening of new factories in the bangle city.
In its report, the UPPCB has been directed to give details on how many times or percentage-wise increase the said factories have made between the time when coal was used in factories and at present, when natural gas is being used. The Supreme Court in 1996 had passed an order stating that there would be no further expansion of industries in the TTZ and a fixed amount of natural gas would be provided to them to operate.

The TTZ is a 10,400 sq km trapezium-shaped area covering five districts of Agra region and comprises over 40 protected monuments including three world heritage sites - Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and

Fatehpur Sikri

.

Notably, a case related to this matter is already sub-judice in the National Green Tribunal.
UPPCB regional officer B N Sharma said that the report would be submitted within one month.