more-in Set in the heart of bustling Whitefield, Graphite India, a 50-year-old industry that has faced the ire of citizens, may run into fresh trouble after a Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) inspection showed lapses in measures to reduce air quality. On Wednesday, in anticipation of a visit by KSPCB officials, a large number of citizens gathered at the site to press for closure of the factory, which they say has been responsible for the elevated levels of air pollution in the area. On an inspection of the factory, KSPCB Chairman Lakshman said that the industry had only partially complied with the orders of the Karnataka State Appellate Court in 2012. While sensors were not recording the actual values of pollution, the roof and side panels along the walls were broken at a key part of the factory, which allowed for ‘fugitive’ dust to escape. Similarly, other measures to control pollution were not taken. During the visit, the cleaning crew from a nearby private hospital showed carbon soot from the factory wafting into the hospital. “There is enough evidence to show that the black dust in the area is due to Graphite India. The orders have been partially complied with. We will send a notice to them, and we will approach the court to vacate the stay so that we can enforce the closure order,” he said. Mr. Lakshman also promised that a mobile unit to capture Air Quality Index of the area will be stationed at the spot. Legal issues The factory’s Consent to Operate had expired earlier in June and the company had applied for a five-year approval. Residents, who had met the KSPCB chairman along with Bengaluru Central MP P.C. Mohan on Tuesday, demanded that the KSPCB reject the application. Graphite India’s legal trouble started in 2012 when KSPCB issued a closure order. The company approached the Appellate Court, which consented to their operation with seven conditions. Residents then approached the National Green Tribunal in 2013 against the order. There has been little progress in the case apart from an order to the KSPCB to conduct a random inspection last year. “The court order stays the closure notice. But there is nothing preventing the KSPCB from exercising its power to close the factory, as they do not have a valid approval... It is clear that the factory has failed to take steps to reduce pollution. They have not even managed to fix the roof,” says Ziby Jamal from Whitefield Rising, a citizens’ collective. The group has approached the local police with a petition to close down the factory, and demanded that the KSPCB take steps to transfer the case from the southern bench of NGT to the principal bench in Delhi in the hope that the case would be expedited. Mr. Lakshman consented to the demand and said this would be done on priority.

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