Tata Steel asked to submit coke plant closure plan

The Central Pollution Control Board has asked Tata Steel to submit the schedule for closing one of its coke oven batteries, which is exceeding the emission norms, Parliament was informed today.

The Central Pollution Control Board has asked Tata Steel to submit the closure schedule of the battery at the earliest, minister of state for Steel A Sai Prathap said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

Coke oven battery is a plant where coking coal is converted into coke.

"One coke oven battery (No.3) of Tata Steel is exceeding the stack emission norms of particulate matter. It is an old battery and the matter was discussed by the Task Force for Iron & Steel Sector (set up by CPCB) during its meeting on July 8, 2009," he added.

However, he maintained that there is no major violation of the environment norms by domestic steel makers and majority of them have installed pollution controlling devices.