SC’S pet coke ban to throw 25 lakh NCR workers out of work: India Inc

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court's decision to ban distribution, sale and use of furnace oil and pet coke in the national capital region will render over 25 lakh workers jobless, Assocham said on Monday.

"The industries are already under tremendous stress after the implementation of GST and the ban on use of pet coke will prove to be the final nail in the coffin. Over 25 lakh workers will be rendered jobless in Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram (formerly Gurgaon), Panipat, Sonipat and Noida alone," Assocham said in a statement.

The chamber has called for giving adequate time to industrial consumers to migrate from furnace oil and pet coke to gasbased alternatives to save livelihood of the workers.

"It is estimated that about 1,000 units directly and nearly 10,000 allied units have been severely impacted by the ban on the use of pet coke and furnace oil from November 1," Asso- cham said in a statement.

Earlier, the apex courtappointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), in its report to the top court, had recommended that "distribution, sale and use of furnace oil and pet coke be strictly banned in the NCR", in a move aimed at curbing pollution in the region.

"There has been no action by the government authorities to control the dust pollution. While they are trying to control stubble burning, they are facing resistance from the farmers. But on the contrary, the industry is always agreeing to fully comply with the norms as and when laid down, yet they have been punished," said the industry body.

According to Assocham, the industries that are directly affected are in all segments. It is imperative that adequate time be given to the industries to set up their process to meet the new norms laid down by the ministry. Therefore, the ban needs to be lifted to save the industry.