Indian environment board shuts down adulterated lube unit

The Indian state of West Bengal’s environment department issued a shutdown notice for a lubricant manufacturing unit in North 24 Parganas district for selling adulterated lubricants for use in vehicles. According to department officers, it was the first time that a lubricant manufacturing unit was asked to close down for selling adulterated oil. Because of the order, Binayak Chemical will not be able to operate without permission from the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), the local civic authority in charge of pollution control and monitoring environmental health. WBPCB said in a report in May that Binayak Chemical was actively involved in selling adulterated lubricants for use by vehicles, violating the order of statutory authorities. If the unit fails to comply with the directives, its electricity connection would be cut, in addition to other sanctions to be given by the authorities. The sale of adulterated products should be stopped, WBPCB said, as they are a main cause of air pollution in the country. (July 3, 2009)