The Punjab Pollution Control Boards (PPCB) has issued notices to around 205 of the 234 steel rolling mills among other industries amid pollution concerns. The board in its report filed with the National Green Tribunal (NGT), has stated these mills have failed to switch over to piped natural gas from coal to curb pollution levels.
Mandi Gobindgarh is one of the non-attainment cities and has failed to control pollution and meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM 10 or NO2.
Only 34 industries in Mandi Gobindgarh have successfully converted their re-heating furnace from coal to PNG, with 123 units still in the process of shifting. Failure to make the switch could lead to license suspension for these units. It would entail a cost of Rs250,000-300,000 per unit and take around three months.
The board has earlier extended the earlier deadline of March 31, 2020, till Dec 31, 2020.