The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has issued a show cause notice to UltraTech Cement’s factory in the village of Arda, Orissa, for violating pollution norms and asked the company to respond within 15 days as to why action should not be taken against it.

Residents surrounding the plant have claimed that dust emissions are causing a health hazard. Mukesh Mahalinga, regional officer of SPCB, said the notice was issued after a team of inspectors visited the plant over the 5-10 December, according to reports in the New Indian Express.

Mahalinga has said that if plant management fail to submit a satisfactory reason for the non-functioning of the opacity meter at the factory, action would be taken against the producer.

UltraTech has also been instructed to construct concrete roads on the factory premises, he added.