Chandigarh--  Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today approved the amended Policy for Rice Shelling Units and Saila Plants to streamline guidelines for handling, transportation, storage and disposal of Paddy Husk.

          A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister during a high level meeting with the senior officers of Science, Technology & Environment, Labour, CTP, Food and Civil Supplies department and Punjab Pollution Control Board, besides office bearers of the Punjab Rice Sheller's Association. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Mr. Adesh Partap Singh Kairon was also present in the meeting.

          According to the Secretary Science, Technology & Environment Ms. Seema Jain, the modified policy is an improvement of the Code of Practices to be followed by Rice Shelling units in Punjab. The industry would be required to construct a 35 feet long brick wall on each side of the rice husk discharge pipe and its height will be at least 10 feet or 3.5 feet higher than the discharge point of Husk pipe (whichever is more) for proper rice husk storage facilities inside the units. A five feet high wind screen of mild steel or some other similar material above the wall would also be fixed besides covering the heap of rice husk with a proper net whenever height of the heap rises to more than 3 feet as per the new norms. All the Units shall have to comply with the policy by November 2013.

          She further informed in the meeting that these units have been allowed to install Sortex Machines provided that the Pollution
load and the capacity of the respective Sheller should not be increased. All the rice shelling units / saila plants were asked to provide paved / brick roads / cement concrete roads / metalled roads inside their premises so that generation of dust is regulated