Raipur, July 25 - The Chhattisgarh government has issued notices to 45 small steel and sponge iron units for violating pollution norms, a minister said Saturday.

'The state government has served notices to 45 steel units and sponge iron units based on Urla-Siltara industrial growth centre on the outskirts of Raipur for overlooking pollution control measures and also not using electro-static precipitator (ESP) machines,' Housing and Environment minister Rajesh Munat told reporters.

He said the government would take firm action against industries which are consistently failing to control the emissions.

However, the state assembly after a lengthy debate Friday rejected a proposal moved by the opposition Congress member Mohammed Akbar that licences of industrial houses not using ESP machines be suspended for one year.