Tightening the noose on “polluting” industries, the Orissa Government on Monday issued “partial closure notices” to 26 sponge iron plants for not complying with the stipulated pollution control norms, the Forest and Environment Minister, Mr Debi Prasad Mishra, said.

“The 26 sponge iron units were found not enhancing their bag filter capacity and dust-handling system despite several notices. Some of them were told to scale down production or work under the capacity of their bag filter,” he told reporters.

In June, the State Government had served show-cause notices to 68 sponge iron units. “Initially, 68 units were served with show-cause notices. Forty two responded and enhanced their bag filter. But, 26 others are yet to modify themselves,” Member Secretary of the Orissa State Pollution Control Board, Mr S Das, said.

All the 104 sponge iron plants in the State were inspected by IIT, Kharagpur, and asked to enhance their bag filter and dust-handling systems to reduce the pollution level.

Mr Das said while 29 units fully complied in the first phase, seven others were on different stages of modification.

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