Ethanol plant at Byrnihat clarifies on social media videos
Shillong, June 30: The Umiam Distillation Private Limited (UDPL) has termed “misleading” social media videos about emission from its grain-based ethanol plant at EPIP Industrial Area in Byrnihat, saying it was water vapour produced in the drying process, and not smoke.
“Our operations are conducted in accordance with the technical standards and environmental compliance measures prescribed by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and other competent authorities,” a company statement said on Tuesday.
Explaining its pollution-control systems, the company said, “The plant is equipped with modern pollution control infrastructure, including Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) and a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system, ensuring environmentally responsible operations.”
The company underscored its role in the Centre’s energy roadmap. “Our ethanol plant is an integral part of the Government of India’s Ethanol Blending Programme, a strategic national initiative aimed at strengthening India’s energy security,” UDPL said.
“The ethanol produced at our plant contributes significantly towards meeting Meghalaya’s ethanol blending requirements and supports the State’s energy security,” it added.
Stating that the viral videos mischaracterized its emissions, the company said, “The visible emission shown in the circulating video is steam (water vapour) generated during the drying process and not smoke. Steam is a normal part of the ethanol manufacturing process and is environmentally safe.”
It pointed out that “the videos and photographs do not capture the plant’s regulated boiler stack (chimney), which is the actual emission source monitored by the regulatory authorities.”
The firm contended that the footage presented an incomplete picture of the industrial area. “There are several other distilleries, breweries, cement plants, ferro-alloy industries, wood-based industries and other manufacturing units operating within the same industrial estate. However, these have not been shown, resulting in a selective presentation,” it said.
It urged MSPCB to act saying, “We respectfully urge the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board to constitute an independent technical committee to undertake a comprehensive scientific assessment of the entire Byrnihat Industrial Estate.”
The assessment, UDPL said, should include “emissions from all industrial units, vehicular traffic, construction activities and other contributing pollution sources based on scientific monitoring and source apportionment studies.”
