According to recent notification by Haryana state government footwear industry in the state will not be permitted without obtaining a no objection certificate from Haryana State Pollution Control Board (PCB) within 30 days and those violating directions will have to face consequences and cases will be registered against them. According to notification, footwear industry has now been brought under concept management and the units manufacturing other than shoe uppers will have to obtain clearance from Board as per consent establish (CTE) and consent operate (CTO) failing which such footwear manufacturers will have to close down their shutters.
According to information, there are large numbers of units manufacturing footwear shoes and their components across the state which include more than 500 units functioning at Bahadurgarh in Rohtak district alone known as ‘Footwear Town’ in the state especially manufacturing rubber shoes and their components being supplied in domestic as well as export markets. According to Amit Dahiya of State Pollution Control Board at Bahadurgarh, there are several chemicals used in footwear industry spreading pollution in atmosphere and declared harmful for human health require installation of pollution control devices along with exhaust fans in these manufacturing units. Moreover, diesel generating sets installed in these units too spread pollution.
Footwear industry also releases harmful domestic effluents and chemical wastes for which industry needs authorization under hazard waste management-2018. Chemicals used in footwear industry include Pathlatic Esters, Poly-urathane Eva, Polyvinyl Chloride, Calcium Carbonate and Sulphur, which generate volatile organic compound producing pollution in the air. Electric heaters used to mould soles need installation of air pollution control devices and exhaust to stop accumulation of pollution in environment. Plastic used in footwear industry also released plastic waste and need installation of pollution control devices.
