The National Green Tribunal (hereinafter referred to as "NGT") has issued an order dated May 16, 2017 in the matter of People for Education Research Scholarship & Outward Nutrition v. Union of India and the Central Pollution Control Board, 471 of 20161 wherein the NGT has:

  1. directed State Governments to notify within two months from the date of the order whether pet coke is 'an approved fuel or not';
  2. directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (hereinafter referred to as "MoEF") to notify within two months from the date of the order, whether pet coke is hazardous waste under Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2016; and
  3. issued guidelines on the use of Pet Coke as industrial fuel across the country.

Petroleum coke or Pet Coke is used by industries as fuel and contains various dangerous chemicals and heavy metals such as Chromium, Vanadium, etc. Pet coke also has high Sulphur contents which on burning releases large amounts of Sulphates into the atmosphere. These harmful chemicals cause air pollution and leads to various health risks and various studies have been conducted showing the effect such chemicals have on people.

1. FACTS OF THE CASE

  • The applicant, People for Education Research Scholarship & Outward Nutrition, a society registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860, had filed an application stating that burning of Pet Coke posed a significant health risk due to emission of high concentration of various air pollutants and therefore requested NGT:
  1. To issue appropriate guidelines or direction for handling of pet coke to minimize damage to environment.
  2. To issue direction for ban on usage of petroleum coke as fuel.
  3. To direct respondents to conduct an inquiry into illegal usage of petroleum coke by industries.
  • The respondents, MoeF and the Central Pollution Control Board (hereinafter referred to as "CPCB"), had stated that they had notified emission standards of Sulphur for various categories of industries to take suitable steps to control emission with norm, even if they were lawfully using pet coke as a fuel. MoEF stated that norms have been notified for cement industries which are applicable even if Pet Coke is mixed with coal and used for clinker making. It was mandatory for the industries to take suitable steps to control its emissions well within norm, even if they are lawfully using pet coke as fuel.
  • The CPCB also stated that Pet Coke should not be used by any industry without any express permission of Pollution Control Committee/State Pollution Control Board.
  • CPCB requested the NGT to allow Technical Review Committee constituted by MoEF and Pollution Control Committee to study the issue and decide whether Pet Coke was a waste or hazardous waste or by-product waste.

2. ISSUE

The issue before NGT was whether there should be any restriction or ban on the use of pet coke as fuel and if restrictions were to be imposed, what the same would be.

3. JUDGEMENT

NGT observed that due to high Sulphur content and presence of metals in Pet Coke and pollution potential of Pet Coke as fuel, it was necessary to apply precautionary principle to regulate its use. The NGT, therefore, issued the following directions:

  1. In light of Section 19(3) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (hereinafter referred to as "Air Act") which grants power to the State Government to ban any fuel other than approved fuel, which may cause air pollution, respective State Governments were directed to notify whether pet coke is 'an approved fuel or not'.
  2. NGT directed the MoEF to notify within two months whether pet coke is hazardous waste under Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2016 or a by-product.
  3. Section 21(5) of the Air Act provides that, any person to whom consent has been granted under the Act to establish and operate any industrial plant, should install, replace or alter pollution control equipment according to direction of SPCB. In the light of this provision industries must obtain necessary consent from State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Board to use Pet Coke as industrial fuel or to generate energy. Such industries shall also have to get their Air Pollution Control System approved to use Pet Coke. If industries did not have such consent, then the State Pollution Control Boards were directed to take immediate action.
  4. Industries which already have consent to use Pet Coke may continue to use the same for following two months and thereafter, shall abide by the decision taken by respective State Government and MoEF.

In Pritam Singh v. Union of India and Anr.2, the plaintiff was seeking directions from the NGT on the use of pet coke as an industrial fuel. The Principal Bench of the NGT noted that the matter had already been previously taken up in People for Education Research Scholarship & Outward Nutrition v. Union of India and the Central Pollution Control Board, wherein certain directions were issued. However, the NGT also issued another additional direction, directing that the impact on environment should also be studied before any final report is filed before the NGT.

4. USE OF PET COKE & FURNACE OIL IN NCR

The use of pet coke and other non-standard fuel in industries in the National Capital Region (hereinafter referred to as "NCR") and its impact is under consideration by the Supreme Court in the case of M.C. Mehta vs. Union of India, I.A.No. 345, Writ Petition Civil No. 13029 of 1985. The Supreme Court vide its order dated February 6, 2017 Court had directed all authorities such as Environmental Control Authority (hereinafter referred to as "EPCA"), Government of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to come up with a comprehensive plan regarding action plan for reducing air pollution in NCR. The EPCA had submitted a report to Supreme Court dated April 4, 2017 in which it has suggested that the distribution, sale and use of furnace oil and pet coke should be strictly banned in NCR.

It is pertinent to note that the State Governments of U.P., Haryana and Rajasthan have made submissions to the Supreme Court stating that they have no objection if a ban is placed on the use of Furnace Oil and Pet Coke.

The Supreme Court vide its order dated May 2, 2017 has also directed the Union of India as well as the CPCB to fix standards for SO2, Nox and Sox emissions on or before June 30, 2017 for 35 industries for which standards have not been set, after giving a hearing to a limited number of authorized representatives of these industries. The 35 industries have been given time till December 31, 2017 to comply with the standards set.

CONCLUSION

The Supreme Court and NGT orders relating to regulated use of Pet Coke as fuel by industries show that the Courts are willing to take positive actions toward curbing air pollution, thereby protecting people from harmful effects of industrial operations. However, the ban on Pet Coke will be disadvantageous to the industries using Pet Coke as they may have to resort to using alternate fuels or be required to install Air Pollution Control Systems to use Pet Coke, which may not be technologically and economically viable.

Footnotes

1 http://www.greentribunal.gov.in/Writereaddata/Downloads/471‐2016(PB‐I)OA24‐3‐17.pdf

2 Original Application No. 287 of 2016

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