The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has launched strict action against Tyre Pyrolysis Oil Units (TPOUs) that violated environmental rules. Acting on complaints from farmers and residents about pollution, the board carried out state-wide inspections.
Seventeen teams of environmental engineers inspected 17 operational units in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Bathinda, and other districts. The checks focused on air pollution control devices, effluent management, and safety practices.
Tyre pyrolysis is a process that heats waste tyres in oxygen-free conditions to produce oil and carbon black. If not run properly, these units release black smoke, handle pyro gas unsafely, and dispose of harmful residues in unsafe ways.
The inspection revealed that 11 of the 17 units were not following prescribed norms. Key violations included lack of pollution control equipment, unsafe handling of pyro gas, and poor disposal of waste.
The PPCB has issued notices to all violators. A spokesperson stressed that the Punjab Pollution Control Board is committed to protecting public health and ensuring industries adopt safe and sustainable technologies. The board warned that non-compliance will not be tolerated and that strict action will continue.
