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Plans afoot to replace coal–based furnaces with PNG in Moradabad brass units
In an attempt to curb air pollution due to emissions of toxic fumes from brass furnaces in UP’s Moradabad, the Pollution Control Board in collaboration with Moradabad’s district administration and civic authorities is chalking out a plan to replace use of coal to fire furnaces with piped natural gas (PNG).
According to officials at the Pollution Control Board in Moradabad, there are approximately 5,000 big and small metal manufacturing units operating in the city and some are running in residential areas. They coal furnaces are used to smelt copper and zinc for manufacturing brass and molding it into shapes. Aluminum and silver are also smelted. Most of the units flout pollution norms. Despite frequent crackdowns on erring operators, not much has been achieved. This time around, efforts are being made to replace the pollution emitting units with gas furnace to reduce air pollution. A private gas agency has been roped in for the purpose, said officials.
Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, regional officer, Moradabad, Ajay Kumar Sharma told TOI, “The pollution board, district administration and Moradabad Municipal Corporation are jointly working on a plan to completely eliminate the coal furnaces from the city and replace them with gas-based furnaces. The PNG-based furnaces are expected to reduce level of air pollution as compared to coal furnaces that emit a huge amount of carbon dioxide.”
Speaking with TOI, deputy commissioner (industries) Anuj Kumar said, “Around 5,000 big and small metal units are currently operational in Moradabad and all of them use coal-based furnaces for smelting metals. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CBCB), the city was among the 10 most polluted cities (persistently recording ‘severe’ AQI levels) in the country in 2019. It is a matter of concern and, therefore, a plan is underway to control the air pollution. The work will be taken up in phases. Initially, all coal-based furnaces will be converted into PNG-based furnaces.”
Kumar added, “The gas supplying agency will soon be applying for an NOC from the nagar nigam to undertake digging work in parts of city in order to lay the gas pipelines for supply of PNG to these units. All the areas where the coal-based furnaces are being used will be covered under the project. By doing so, the livelihood of those working in the brass units will not suffer as these will not be shut down. The use of green fuel will also help in environment conservation.”
Recently, residents of Rehmat Nagar under Katghar police station limits had lodged a complaint with district administration regarding air pollution from metal furnaces in residential areas and had demanded closure of such units. So far, around 80 metal manufacturing units flouting pollution board norms have been shut down by Moradabad Pollution Control Board.
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