The action follows findings of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) after its environmental surveillance squad (ESS) made surprise raids under instructions from environment and forests minister Suresh Prabhu. The operations of these units would remain suspended until shortcomings detected in the effluent treatment plants are rectified, a ministry release said.

The Calcutta-based industrial unit of Hindustan Lever Limited and Kesoram Industries have been ordered to close down and prohibited from operating dyeing and printing units after a joint finding of the CPCB and the West Bengal Pollution Control Board.

The CPCB has also issued instructions to state pollution control boards that sugar industries which are yet toinstall requisite pollution control system should not be permitted to operate.

Five sugar industries have also been issued instructions in this regard under section five of the Environment (protection) Act 1986. These are Travancore Sugar and Chemicals Limited in Pallakad in Kerala, Shri Sant Eknath SSK Limited in Aurangabad and the Jai Jawan Jai Kisan JKK Limited in Sangli in Maharashtra and Jiwaji Sugar Mills in Mandsaur and Morena Mandan SSK Limited in Morena in Madhya Pradesh.

Hind Agro Industries of Aligarh which is a large slaughter and meat processing unit has also been directed to stop production till the effluent plant is properly operated, while a report about the violations observed of the effluent standards in the case of Vam Organics Limited in Gajraula has been submitted to the court.

Detailed investigation has been carried out by CPCB to ascertain the nature and extent of pollution caused by iron ore processing in the public sector Bailadila iron ore mines in Dantewada in Madhya Pradesh,while the public sector Paradeep Phosphate in Orissa has directed closure of its phosphoric acid plant for non-compliance of pollution control requirements.

Nine distillery units have been directed by CPCB to stop their operations not to restart until requisite pollution control systems are installed. They are: Gujchem distillery (India) Ltd, Billimore, Gujarat; NCS Estate, AP; Dhar Distillery Ltd, MP; Kholapur Sugar Mills, (distillery unit), Maharashtra; O R Distilleries, AP; Punjab Khand Udyog Ltd, Punjab; Belganga SSK Ltd, Maharashtra; Travancore Sugar and Chemicals Ltd (distillery unit), Pallakkad, Kerala and Shree Bileshwar Khand Uydog (distillery unit), Amrali.

Because of pollution caused by ash-laden slurry from the Bokaro thermal power station, Bihar, the chairman, Damodar Valley Corporation, was directed to close down one of the polluting units in the power station and submit monthly reports indicating the progress of installation of requisite pollution control systems. Similar action has alsobeen taken in regard to 28 thermal power stations and periodic reports are called upon to review the progress. The power stations have also been directed to take precautionary steps.