ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING

Training is an important component for Human Resource Development of any Organisation/Institutes. In the area of Environmental Pollution Control, which is an interdisciplinary subject, imparting training is an imperative activity. Environmental awareness among the public and educating current knowledge to the officers working in the Pollution Control Boards are essential steps to have a sound environmental management in the country. Hence the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air ((Prevention and Control of Pollution), Act, 1981 are also emphasizing that imparting training is one of the major functions of the Central Pollution Control Board. Training in various aspects of prevention, abatement and control of pollution to the identified target groups is important. The target groups include officials dealing with planning, funding and implementation of programmes for prevention and control of pollution in the Central and State Governments, the Central and State Pollution Control Boards, the local bodies, operators of industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants and NGO’s engaged in management of pollution control programmes.

TRAINING NEED

Pollution control is an inter-disciplinary subject. Graduates, post-graduates in the fields of chemical/civil engineering and pure and applied sciences, do not have any formal training in the field of prevention, abatement and control of pollution. When appointed in Pollution Control Boards, they face a gigantic task before them. Therefore, it is necessary to have them trained and oriented for discharging their responsibilities smoothly and efficiently in areas, such as consent management, and implementation of effluent and emission standards. In addition, there is a need to improve the capabilities of persons already working with Pollution Control Boards. It is necessary that uniform methods of analysis of pollutants and consent granting are adopted and ensured through training for proper and effective implementation of the provisions of the Acts. To summarize, there are requirements trainings in the following fields:

• Operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants and air pollution control devices;

• Management, routine analysis, quality assurance and analytical quality control and maintenance of environmental laboratories;
• Water and air quality monitoring system;
• Consent management including setting of standards;
• Environmental audit, Environmental Impact Assessment and environmental management system;
• Specific subjects, such as management of hazardous waste, air/water quality modeling, data processing and legal aspects; and
• Computer application for data processing and Internet surfing for literature collection.

8.1 WORKSHOPS ON AIR QUALITY MONITORING – TOXIC POLLUTANTS VOC’, SVOC’S, HAP’S AND POP’S AT VADODARA, KOLKATA AND DELHI UNDER CANADA-INDIA INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING PROJECT

The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), Government of India, in collaboration with Environment Canada have created the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) funded project, designed for strengthening the institutional capacity, to address environmental issues of national priorities & global concern and to promote sound development.

The series of Workshops were organized by Central Pollution Control Board in collaboration with Environment Canada under Canada – India Institutional Strengthening Project on Air Quality Monitoring – Measurement of VOC’, SVOC’s, HAP’s and POP’s in air at Vadodara (January 16-17, 2003), Kolkata (January 20-21, 2003); and Delhi (January 23-24, 2003). The workshops were organized with the objectives to increase the abilities of pollution control board officials to professionally deal with sampling, measurement, release estimation techniques for estimation of toxic contaminants. The workshops were attended by nominated scientists and engineers of State Pollution Control Boards to develop their expertise and exchange of scientific ideas.

8.2 TRAINING WORKSHOP ON ‘QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR LABORATORIES ENGAGED IN AIR QUALITY TESTING’ UNDER CANADA – INDIA INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING PROJECT

The series of training workshops were organised by Central Pollution Control Board in collaboration with Environment Canada under Canada-India Institutional Strengthening Project on "Quality Assurance for Laboratories engaged in Air Quality Testing. For State Pollution Control Boards atMumbai (Feb 9 – 10, 2004); Chennai (Feb 12-13, 2004) and Bangalore (Feb 16-17, 2004). The Mumbai workshop was held in collaboration with Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board, Mumbai. The participants were drawn from Public Sector, Industries, State Pollution Control Board and Central Pollution Control Board.

8.3 TRAINING UNDER CANADA INDIA INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING PROJECT

Four officials from Central Pollution Control Board have undertaken training under Canada -India Institutional Strengthening Project on `Sampling and Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH’s) in Ambient Air at Environmental Technology Centre (Environment Canada), Ottawa, Canada between 10^th May to 11^th June, 2003. The training programme included sampling and analysis of VOC’s and PAH’s in ambient air, quality assurance and quality control in ambient monitoring apart from visit to Air Quality Monitoring Stations at Canada.

8.4 WORKSHOP TOXIC POLLUTANTS MONITORING

Two days workshop on `Toxic Pollutants Monitoring’ was organized by Central Pollution Control Board on 3^rd – 4^th November, 2003. The workshop focussed on monitoring and measurement of toxic pollutants especially air toxics such as volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, fine particulate (PM_2.5) in ambient air using modern, internationally accepted monitoring techniques. The workshop was attended by 26 participants from CPCB HQs, Zonal Offices and other environmental organizations.

8.5 OTHER TRAINING PROGRAMMES

• CPCB Zonal Office, Vadodara, organized Two-days training on "Quality Assurance" for laboratories engaged in Air Quality testing under Canada-India Institutional strengthening project during Feb 9-10, 2004.

• CPCB Zonal Office, Vadodara, organized Two-days workshop on "Toxicity Factor" during Dec. 10-11, 2003 for industry personnel's and SPCB officials. 20 participants attended the programme. The programme included theoretical & practical training to the participants.

• Meeting on CREP for Dye & Dye Intermediate & Pesticide Industries was organized on Dec. 9, 2003. Action plan & implementation strategy were discussed during the meeting.

• A 4-days Training Programme on ‘Principles of Environmental Compliance & Enforcement’ was organized by Zonal Office, Vadodara, in collaboration with United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) under United States Asia Environment Partnership (USAEP) Program at Vadodara. The participants were drawn from different organizations i.e. State Pollution Control Boards, Institutes, Corporations, Associations, Industries, and NGO. The program was highly enlightening and participative.

• Interaction Meet on the Project "Identification of Hazardous Waste Streams, their Characterization, and Waste Minimization Options in Pesticides and Dye & Dye Intermediate Sectors" was organized on 27.02.2003 with respective industrial representatives to discuss the findings of the above project and to share their views.

• A workshop was organized by Zonal Office, Vadodara, on "Air Quality Monitoring for VOCs" jointly with Canadian Experts of Environment Canada during 16^th-17^th January 2003. In this Workshop participants were drawn from various State Pollution Control Boards, which are located in Western and Southern part of India took part including CPCB.

• CPCB Zonal Office, Vadodara, Organised a workshop on "Quality Assurance for Laboratories engaged in Air Quality Teasting (Under Canada-India Institutional Strengthing Project)" in colloboration with Environment Canada at Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Mumbai. The participants were drawn from Customs, public sector industries, state pollution control Boards and Central Pollution Control Board.

• Training Programme was held at CPCB Zonal Office Kolkata during 7^th – 8^th July, 2003 on `Operation and Calibration of AAS’ provided by Niulab, in which three officials from CPCB zonal office Kanpur alongwith scientific personnel from CPCB zonal office Kolkata were participated.