NGOs ACTIVITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS



9.1 ACTIVITIES OF NGO CELL

An NGO Cell was set up in CPCB in the year 1992 to coordinate the following tasks:

  • Enlist environmental NGOs involved in activities related to pollution control with CPCB;

  • Establish NGO network in consultation with State Pollution Control Boards/Zonal Offices;

  • Provide training to the NGOs and equip them with facilities, like water testing kits, analytical instruments, books, literature etc. in order to enhance their capabilities in the field of pollution control; and

  • Organise mass awareness programmes and pollution control activities through NGOs.

During 2003-2004, 5 NGOs were additionally enlisted with CPCB subject to concurrence of concerned State Pollution Control Boards apart from 650 NGOs enlisted during the previous years. A rebate @50% is extended for the purchase of CPCB publications, to NGOs enlisted with CPCB and several NGOs have availed this facility during 2003-2004. Financial assistance of Rs.5000/- each was provided to 10 NGOs for organising mass awareness programmes in different parts of the country.

During the reporting year a three days training programme was organised during 6th to 8th March, 2004 through an NGO namely M/s Ranjai, Pune, with the collaboration of CPCB Zonal Office-Vadodara for the NGOs located in Western States, with the overall objective to educate them in the field of environment and pollution control.

Regional meetings with NGOs located in different States were organised for coordination of the activities and promotion of the public participation/awareness in the pollution control programmes in the country.

Meeting No.

Date

Place

18

February 4, 2004

Chandigarh

19

March 10, 2004

Hyderabad


Interaction has been made with NGOs of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi, UT of Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka through coordination meetings held, so far and training was provided to the NGOs from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Daman Diu & Dadra & Nagar Haveli with the following objectives:

  • To take uniform and concerted approach towards pollution control;

  • To have public participation for abatement of pollution through community action;

  • To identify the major localised environmental problems; and

  • To identify the areas of mutual co-operation among NGOs themselves as well as Pollution Control Boards.

The response of the NGOs was overwhelming and over 150 participants attended the programmes.

9.2 NGO MEET AT CHANDIGARH

An interaction meet of NGOs of northern states was organized in association with the local agencies / NGOs at Chandigarh on Feb 04, 2004 in which around 20 NGOs working in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Haryana and Punjab participated. The interaction meet included series of lectures on relevant topics of pollution control by the experts, discussion on the area specific problems and distribution of literature on the selected topics.

The major environmental issues highlighted during the interaction meet were as follows-

    1. Pollution created by bone mills and slaughter houses in Hapur region.

    2. Gross pollution of river Ghaghra particularly due to disposal of dead bodies. Absence of electric crematorium in the Balia area aggravates the problem.

    3. In the hilly regions of Uttaranchal problems are due to improper MSW management, animal dung disposal into rivers and open human defecation.

    4. Air pollution problems, traffic jams, pollution of rivers at Allahabad.

    5. Air & water pollution problems in Singrauli area due to power plants, caustic soda plant, chemical industries and stone crushers.

    6. Industrial pollution and colour problems of river Tons.

    7. Pollution of river Kali due to Daurala Sugar, distilleries and similar other industries in Meerut.

    8. Pollution of river Sai at Raebareilly and plastic / polythene disposal problems.

    9. Fluoride problems in ground water in Unnao, Singrauli and other areas of UP.

    10. Air pollution in Ghatampur (Kanpur) area due to brick kilns. Around 250 brick kilns are in operation without requisite pollution control equipments.

    11. Pollution of river Gomti due to industrial and domestic discharges.

    12. Gross pollution of Ramgarh lake and river Rapti due to discharge of domestic sewage at Gorakhpur. There are some trans-boundary pollution problems with Nepal.

    13. In and around Bhadohi, a large number of carpet dying industries are in operation without adequate pollution control facilities. These industries vary from small to large. Possibility of discharge of highly polluted coloured effluents into ground water also exists.

Other problems, which are common to almost all the areas, include vehicular pollution problems; plastic and solid waste management problems, absence of sewerage network, noise and air pollution due to operation of DG sets particularly in Uttar Pradesh.

Action has been initiated to examine these problems and to find out suitable solutions.

9.3 TEACHER’S TRAINING PROGRAMME

  • Under the title ‘Environment & Pollution Control’ two training programmes, one at Patna in July and the other at Kolkata in August, were conducted for the high schools teachers including Kendriya Vidyalayas. In total seventy-five teachers had participated in the programme. Topic-wise write-ups were circulated among the participants for reference to their future class teaching. Certificates were awarded to them after completion of the training.

  • CPCB sponsored a one-day training programme to school teachers of Vadodara on environmental related issues. The programme was conducted by SOCLEEN a leading Non Governmental Organization. The training programme has provided broad spectrum of pollution related problems to the participating teachers through lectures and field visits to TSDF and Common Effluent Treatment Plant located in GIDC, Nandesari. The training was attended by approximately 30 teachers of various schools in Vadodara.

  • A two day training programme for teachers was organized by CPCB at Huddard High School, Kanpur with the help of a leading NGO, Eco Friends during 19-20 Feb, 2004. Teachers from 25 different schools participated in the programme. The lectures were delivered on various aspects of environmental pollution and other environmental problems especially in the city of Kanpur. An exhibition of environmental monitoring instruments was also organized in which instrument like: DO meter, pH meter, Conductivity meter, Noise level meter, Air Samplers etc. were displayed.

  • Four day training programme for the lecturers of Polytechnic Colleges of Uttar Pradesh, was conducted during Dec. 16-19, 2003 at Kanpur in which 19 participants from various cities of the State participated. The training programme included series of lectures on relevant topics of pollution – sources and control, laboratory visits and field visits to CETP – Jajmau and CTF – Biomedical Wastes – Kanpur.

9.4 STUDENTS TRAINING PROGRAMME

  • The Central Pollution Control Board organized a workshop on "Environmental Teaching" in association with local NGO at Vadodara. The target groups were teachers, scholars and students of Schools & University. Total 100 participants attended the programme.

Following topics were covered in the workshop:

  • Quality of Public Health Management

  • Cleanliness, Solid Waste Management

  • Quality of water, Rainwater Harvesting

  • Traffic Pollution, Traffic Management

  • An exhibition was organised on pollution control and measurement devices at Acharya Pathshala Public School, Bangalore. Students from ten different schools participated in the programme. The CPCB officials explained various aspects of pollution to the students and demonstrated devices used for quantification of the pollution.

  • A presentation on the "Role of CPCB and Environmental Pollution" and demonstration on water, air and noise monitoring equipments were made to the High School level teachers under the Orientation Programme, held at MES Teachers Training College, Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore.

  • A painting competition was organized in Devendra Shiskha Samiti School, Kanpur, for creating awareness among children on Environmental Subjects. About one hundred children of class 6th to 9th participated in competition. Prizes were also given to students for best paintings on the subject.

9.5 MASS AWARENESS PROGRAMMES

  • A workshop was organized on 5th June,2003 in collaboration with Eco Friends, a leading NGO at Kanpur on the subject "Water- Two billion people are dying for it". Various Govt organizations took part in the workshop to spread the message for water conservation. Two permanent hoarding were erected in the city with message to prevent the water pollution and to help in water conservation.


  • The Central Pollution Control Board Project Office, Agra prepared a thematic pamphlet on "Water Conservation" in Hindi. These were supported with messages illustrating water conservation in everyday activities. The media in the form of local newspapers extended their full support by printing the material prepared by the Project Office. In addition two cells of the Project Office initiated special programmes to celebrate the day. The Air Quality Monitoring Laboratory in co-ordination with the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board and the R.T.O., Agra organised a vehicular pollution check programme. Pollution under Control Certificates (PUC) and Green Cards were issued to the vehicle owners complying with the prescribed parameters. Pamphlets, posters, brochures, booklets and write-ups on eco-friendly techniques, to keep vehicular pollution under check were also distributed. In addition Air Quality monitoring was at four identified locations.

  • The Spatial Environmental Planning Studio coordinated with the Agra Nagar Nigam to get together city officers aware of the ground situation in the city. The gathering was used as a platform to introduce the concepts of Urban Environmental Information System (‘Urb-Envis’). The project focuses on making the municipalities partners in schemes aiming at Urban Environmental Improvement. The methodology involves the compilation of data in the form of an Environmental Status Report, which includes spatial data in the form of maps. This information then made available to the public domain through websites, thereby providing a tool to aid in decision- making for further development of the projects. This information once in the public domain empowers the local people with background information to voice their opinions on developmental work. A Brochure in Hindi on ‘Urb-Envis’ was also released.

  • Participants of training programme on implementation of Male’ Declaration visited for on job training from August 4 to August 9, 2003 in the laboratory and field visit to the ambient air quality monitoring network being operated by the Central Pollution Control Board in Agra. The participants were the representatives of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Pakistan and Maldives.

  • A presentation on the problems and effects associated with Ozone Depletion was made at Agra on World Ozone Day (September 16, 2003). The efforts made at the national as well as the international level to arrest Ozone Depletion were highlighted, followed by a discussion on the subject matter.

9.6 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The Central Pollution Control Board motivated an non-government organization, Eco Friends, and the local people in Kanpur to adopt a small section of street from Gumti No. 9 crossing to Gurudev Palace for launching a campaign "Adopt Your Street’ under the banner of "Alliance for a Better and Cleaner Kanpur". Major activities undertaken with the help of residents and other agencies were:

  • One time cleaning of road including drain

  • Regular sweeping of road and door to door garbage collection

  • Providing bins to slum dwellers for garbage storage

  • Regular Lifting of garbage from collection points by KNN.

  • Participation of local residents in the programme

  • Spreading mass awareness among residents and schools of the area.

With the support of local residents the programme is running successfully and street is now free from littered garbage. The programme will be further expanded to new areas with people’s co-operation. The programme is being run on no profit no loss basis with financial contribution from local residents of the area.

9.7 CPCB PUBLICATIONS DURING YEAR 2003

  1. Water Quality - Status and Trends (Reprint); MINARS/20

  2. Zoning Atlas – Sensitive Maps : (Tamilnadu, M.P., Chattisgarh, U.P., Uttranchal, Maharashtra, West Bengal)

  3. Environmental Atlas of India

  4. Charter - Corporate Responsibility for Environmental Protection (Reprint)

  5. Proceedings of the Workshop on Environmental Impact Assessment Studies for Developmental Projects

  6. Development of Site Selection Methodology for Landfilling - A Case study for Bangalore

  7. Treatability Study of DDT Industry Waste Water – A Case Study : IMPACT/9

  8. Alternative Coal Ash Transformation and Disposal Systems for Thermal Power Plat : PROBES/94

  9. Status of Sewage Treatment Plants in Ganga Basin : PROBES/54

  10. Identification of Hazardous Wastes Streams their Characterisation and Waste Minimisation Option in Petrochemical Sector : HAZWAMS/24

  11. Guidelines on Construction Operation & Application of Rootzone Treatment Systems for the Treatment of Municipal & Industrial Waste Water : PROBES/6

  12. Assessment of Industrial Pollution : PROBES/92

  13. Status of Pollution Control, Fly Ash Management & Performance of Air Pollution Control Equipment in Thermal Power Plants in West Bengal : PROBES/96

  14. Biodegradability Study for Industrial Effluents in Aerobic Environment by using BOD SEED and Activated Sludge : IMPACT/10

  15. Manual on Sampling, Analysis and Characterisation of Hazardous Wastes : LATS/16

  16. Water Quality Assessment of Surface Water Bodies in & around Singrauli (U.P.) : ADSORBS/38

  17. Environmental Status of Leh and Adjoining Areas : PROBES/99

  18. A Support Manual for Municipal Solid Wastes (Management Handling) Rules, 2000 : IMPACTS/11

  19. Guidelines for Conducting Environmental Impact Assessment : Sites Selection for Common Hazardous Waste Management Facility : HAZWAMS/25

Other Publications

  • Annual Action Plan 2003-2004

  • Annual Report 2002-03

  • List of Publications (Reprint)

    • Hindi Publications

    Pradushan Aap Bhi Kam Kar Sakte Hai

    CPCB 'PARIVESH' Newsletters

    1. R & D for Pollution Control – CPCB Initiatives

    2. Inspection/Maintenance & Certification System for in-use Vehicles

    3. Highlights – 2002

    4. Groundwater

    5. Transport Fuel Adulteration

    6. Alternative Transport Fuels – An Overview

    7. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Air and their Effects on Human Health

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