moradabad in Uttar Pradesh has all the features unique to all cities of the state -- unregulated traffic, dusty congested roads and fumes from generators seen every where. What makes the city stand out is the high level of pollution there.
K L Katyal, vice president of the Brass Art Manufacturers (Exporters) Association, says that the hazards of the industry are known to very few. The two processes of plating and polishing are the main contributors of pollution. The Pollution Control Board ( pcb ), Uttar Pradesh, however, chose to ignore it, he alleges.
An official of the pcb says that pollution can be caused by burning hard code in pit furnaces, buffing, polishing, fugitive emission, captive power generation, electroplating, degreasing, phosphating of iron art work and powder coating. Industrialists do not deny it but pass the buck to the uppcb saying that their failure in taking action against the up electricity board has allowed the erratic power supply to continue.
They also allege that the municipality does not clean up the city. The poor or non-existent sewage system has led to water-logging and seepage Toxic effluents from brassware factories mix with sewage and seep down and thus contaminating ground water.
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