Pollution Control Boards - Tackling a Difficult Task

To say that pollution is among the major problems facing the nation is stating the obvious. Much of the pollution generated is directly or indirectly caused by the various industries of all sizes - small, medium and large - the relation often directly proportional. While technologies exist to mitigate at least some part of the problem, it is the cost of doing so that contributes to non-compliance, no matter the state and effectiveness of the regulatory bodies. As the goes, one cannot have the cake and eat it too. So as industrialization of the country is absolutely essential, there are the various regulatory bodies that are engaged in the difficult task of safeguarding the environment to make it more sustainable. By the term pollution or pollutants, one is talking about the undesirable changes taking place in the physical, chemical or biological attributes of air, water or soil. These pollutants do more harm than mere suffocation of breath and contamination through contaminated water. They actually kill animals and plants and play havoc with the natural eco-balance. Listing out industries that cause pollution, there are mainly the core sector industries like iron and steel, paper and pulp, food processing, chemicals, aluminium, cement, pharmaceuticals and surface finishing industries topping the list. Each State in India has its own pollution control board, which strives to curb pollutants as the country desperately tries to climb the industrialization ladder.

One could rightfully say that the duties of central and state pollution control departments have expanded through the years. The responsibilities and pressure to maintain clean environment are more in the more industrialized states than those lagging behind. The pollution control boards are equipped with automatic monitoring stations where details regarding air quality are updated weekly.

The Central Pollution Control Board has joined hands with the respective State Pollution Control Board to check air quality on a regular basis. A total of 365 locations in 141 cities are involved in this project. From the study that was carried out for the past 3 years, it is understood that particulate matter less than size 10 micron (PM10) has increased beyond the safe amount over the years. However, levels of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are in controlled amounts. Fresh water is the next concern of the pollution board. The Indian Institute of Technology - New Delhi, assessed industrial clusters with the motive of identifying the most polluted ones and prioritizing the pollution control plans accordingly. With the help of State Pollution Control Boards and Central Pollution Control Boards, 88 industrial clusters were identified. A Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) is applied to these clusters and their pollution levels are rated by 3 factors, viz., pollutant, pathway and receptor. All systemic, carcinogenic and toxic chemical effluents are considered to be pollutants. The damage of pollutants on people and eco-geographic features is analyzed as pathway and level of exposure and risks are chalked out by the receptor factor. 17 categories of highly polluting industries including fertilizers, chlor-alkali, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, petroleum oil refineries, integrated iron and steel plants and copper and zinc smelting units were identified and 12 prime pollutants including gases like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and ammonia were also identified in the process. India has 14 prime rivers, 44 rivers of moderate importance and 55 small rivers. Most of these rivers get filled through monsoon rains and live to a maximum of 3 months every year. Throughout the remaining year, they are dry. These rivers are susceptible to carrying industrial waste and polluting the water resources, so essential for survival.

In Gujarat, the rivers Narmada, Tapti and Mahi are affected with over 200 MLD acidic, oxygen depleted and sediment-laden effluents from chemicals, dyes and pharmaceutical industries. The Kalu River at Titwala near Mumbai is understandably contaminated with mercury owing to its flow through industrial towns such as Ambarnath, Ulhasnagar and Kalyan. The Hooghly in Kolkata is flush with metal effluents of nickel, cadmium, copper and zinc and the once famous fish from this river has now become inedible. Synoptic monitoring tools, remote satellite sensing and acoustics could help measuring such river and coastal pollutions. The Central Pollution Government Board advices the government regarding the quality of air and water and devices plans for the enrichment of the same. Training programs in this regard are arranged for human resources and awareness is created among the

general public. Different legislations have been executed for water and air pollution, environment, public liability and hazardous wastes. With the advent of September every year, a Hindu dominated country like India focuses its pollution fears on the idols of Ganesh and Durga that would be immersed in the ocean and other water bodies under religious conventions. Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board has set an example for its counterparts all over the nation by organizing a training program for idol makers and educating them on the ill effects of making idols with Plaster of Paris and chemical dyes. They do not stop with that, and suggest earthen or papier-mache idols, which are colored with vegetable dyes. The various State Pollution Control Boards are on their heels in taking action against companies, which do not comply with pollution control norms. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board has issued closure notice to 17 companies, which include a non-ferrous metal factory at Narkeldanga, processed plastic manufacturing unit at Bagbazar and a sweet manufacturing unit at Gariahat. This state board is concerned about the rapidly increasing e-waste in the state and has initiated workshops to create awareness for the effective disposal of the same. This action follows the dumping of e-waste in locations such as Tiljala, Topsia, Tangra and Park Circus. The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has issued closure notices to 14 industrial units in Palsana Taluk of Surat district. The GPCB officials have also created a help line to get clues about polluting units. The GPCB has also planned to install an online analyzer system for regular monitoring of the industries. This measure follows incidents were traces of pollution are removed before the officials reach the premises that was accused. An online analyzer system would avert such fraudulent methods. As an action initiative, GPCB has asked the government, co-operative and corporate units to get connected with the GPCB online analyzer system. In Kerala, Chief Minister Oomen Chandy has identified land use plans and an industrial corridor from Kochi to Palakkad, but without damaging the environment. The state plans to concentrate on biotech and IT related projects, which might eliminate the possibilities of pollution, at least to a large extent. Chennai based company, M K Aromatics, has recently attracted attention by coming up with a proposal to extract crude oil from plastic waste. Since this idea brings an end to plastic menace, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board supports the project by offering to purchase the diesel thus produced. Mr.Karthikeyan, Member Secretary of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board says that a tone of plastic waste gives 800 liters of crude oil. Kodungaiyur and Perungudi dump yards are chosen for factories related to the project and permission from Chennai Corporation is waited for. Mr M K Merchant, managing director of M K Aromatics, sees a lot of prospect in this project because Chennai produces 300 tones of plastic waste every day. Delhi, however, handles the plastic menace in a totally different way. Chief Minister Sheila Dixit has announced a blanket ban on plastic bags of all kinds. Manufacture, sale, storage and use of plastic are considered as environmental and health hazard and that has spelled the end for plastic consumption within the union territory limits of Delhi. The maximum penalty for violating this law would be 1 lakh rupees or 5 years imprisonment.

Speaking about pollution, noise is a matter of serious concern. The Indian pollution control boards have set up noise norms for industrial, commercial, residential and silence zones. Noise pollution is a serious affair because continuous noise, which measures above 80 decibels, could end in headache, hypertension, high blood pressure and irritability. Mr Chetan Upadhyaya, Secretary of Sathya Foundation, would not tolerate noise pollution under the guise of wedding ceremonies or religious programmes. Located at Varanasi, the Sathya Foundation insists on legal action under the Amended Noise Pollution Rules of 2010 and asks for intervention of the local police station in such cases. Controlling pollution in India also includes conservation of coastal regions and seashores. The 6000 plus Samudra Paheredar in the east coast and its counterpart in the west coast of India protect kilometers of Indian coastline. These ships are capable of recovering 500 KL oil in case of oil slicks if any. Though there is umpteen methods to trouble shoot pollution and make things more positive, the solution actually lies in the hands of every individual who shares the geographical location with his community. Individual responsibility and civic sense has a big say when it comes to preserving the environment, because the globe is shared and never exclusive. Nothing other than self-built discipline could help in this case. Pollution control begins at home with smarter and thoughtful lifestyles, which makes the environment more sustainable. Resolving to prevent and control vehicular pollution, water pollution and noise pollution in individual levels and religiously implementing such resolutions are bound to make wonders on the globe.

By ipfonline.com