COMBATING POLLUTION THE HEC WAY

Osama Manzar
When so much of noise is made for the preservation of environment and so much of energy is being dissipated by the ministry of environment in devising ways and means to combat pollutants called chlorofluro carbons [CFCs] damaging the precious ozone layer, it is heartening to see the Heavy Engineering Corporation, the ASIA’s biggest factory isfully, geared to fulfill the aspirations of the humanity in this regard.
When on fronted with the query that how could, the HEC the Asia’s biggest factory not have pollution controlling devices on its all eight 80 feet ‘tall ckimnneys the General Manager, ‘Mr. H N Singh took refuse behind this rationale,” Since the Foundry Forge Plant [FFP] is a product gas plant and all the furnaces are electrically devised, there is no chance of smoke or fume since possibility air pollution is ruled out”.
When pointed out that ill effects due to the SO2 [Sulpher dioxide], CO [Carbon mono oxide] and NO x [Nitrogen di/trioxide] could be caused by their emission in the air the manager [TSD], Mr. A K Sen said that routine check-ups are conducted to see that their proportion in the air never exceeds the permissible limits. Even in the case of carbon mono oxide, which is a principal air pollutant, Mr. Sen added that the residue of this gas in the air is never more than 2000 per cubic metre, when the, permissible quantity of this gas has been put 500 micro 9 rams per cubic metre by an Act IS-5182. Every week we analyse and test the emitted gas, and it has never crossed the provided limit’. Mr. Sen added.
In addition to the gas pollutants, the dust pollutant is also a matter of concern for the Technical Services Department hut with the commissioning of the ‘Numetic sand conveying system’ soon, even thin hazard would be overcome, said the D GM, Maintenance Steel Foubdry, Mr. Bhandari. With the commissioning of this system there will be 100 per cent consumption of the dust, Mr. Bhandari further added.
The Bihar government has also advised the HEC to introduce new pollution controlling devices to monitor outer air, and in compliance with such recommendation controlling devices would be soon set up at the FFP, HMBP and the hospital. In addition to this there is already a oil recovery and recycling plant in the 04 shop to reduce the oil from the drain water, disclosed Mr. Bhandari. Another major pollutant is the waste water, which goes through four drains, namely A, B, C and D circuits. Except the ‘D’ other circuits carry water to the Subernarekha river through 16 inches thick underground pipelines. The waste is discharged into the pipelines only after giving it treatment and processing, at the 4.5 MG/day ‘Sewage treatment plant’ which has been recently established. However ‘phenolic compounds are the principal potential pollutants in the plant as these are formed in large quantities in the coal gasification process” said Mr. Tanta, Dy Manager, ‘Civil maintenance. “The liquid Waste containing high concentration of phenols and ammonia is recovered in ESPs and coolers and pumped to a 300 cubic metre per day capacity tank to be treated by Biology activated sludge ‘plant”, Mr. Tant a further revealed.
By undertaking all these precautionary measures the concentration of pollutants in the effluent were never allowed to’ rise beyond its permissible provision. Further the water is tested every week, to see the quantity of phenols. In addition to these environmental preservation programmes, 5000 saplings have also been planted to replenish the tree cover, Mr. Sen further added.