The Central Pollution Control Board has notified ambient air quality standards (AAQS) for various pollutants. The first set of AAQS was adopted in 1982. Subsequently, the revised standards were notified in the year 1994 and the standards for Ammonia were included in the year 1998. These standards needed review, particularly with regard to the criteria for setting the standards e.g. existing land use based standards, inclusion of new parameters (e.g. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Benzene Soluble Fractions (BSF) for particulates, Formaldehyde, Benzene, Poly-aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), Arsenic, Nickel, Mercury and Vanadium), prescribing short and long-term limiting values considering health impacts, monitoring protocol, etc. Accordingly, CPCB initiated a project on ‘Review of ambient air quality criteria/standards’, which is in progress.

Coliform continues to be a major water quality issue in India. Inspite of large amount of efforts expenditures on River Action Plan water quality with respect to coliform standards could not be achieved. Realising the environmental importance of coliform in water, CPCB initiated a study on coliform reduction in the conventional wastewater treatment plants in India. The main objectives of the study were as follows:

1. To ascertain the status and evolve strategies to improve the micropbiological quality status of water resources of India.
2. To assess the performance of existing sewage treatment plants (STPs) with respect to microbiological quality parameters.
3. To evolve microbiological quality standards for disposal of treated wastewater for various modes of disposal/recycle and reuse

The study was carried out with the help of IIT, Roorkee & Anna University. For evalulation of performance of STPs several treatment plants were selected comprising of various technologies being adopted in India. It was ensured that the selected STPs are working to their capacity and performance. Both the organizations have submitted their reports at the end of the project. A presentation was made before experts to review the progress. During presentation it was felt important to carry out certain additional experiments by IIT, Roorkee which will help taking decision on setting standards. The project is extended for a period of one year for IIT, Roorkee.

The effluent and emission standards for oil refineries were notified under Environment (Protection) Act in the years 1986 and 1990, respectively. These standards were same for old & new refineries and considered only few parameters. There was need to include additional parameters viz. Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), etc. Besides, many developments have taken place in the technologies for oil refining process and pollution control in this sector during last one decade. New process units are being added to meet the improved fuel quality standards.

In view of the above, the existing standards were reviewed. The revised emission standards include additional parameters viz. NOx, Ni+V, PM, etc. and efficiency for Sulphur Recovery Unit. In addition, a Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programme and specific requirements for minimizing vapour losses from storage tanks & product loading/unloading facilities are also included. In the revised effluent standards, additional parameters have been added and limiting values for existing parameters revised.

Revised standards were discussed in the 18^th Peer & Core Committee and approved by the Board in its 132^nd meeting held on January 04, 2005 and forwarded to MoEF for notification under E (P) Act, 1986.

A project was undertaken by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to develop emission standards and to review effluent standards for basic organic chemicals manufacturing industries by engaging the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad. About 160 chemicals falls under the basic organic chemicals group, which are produced by about 190 industrial units in the country. So far in-depth studies have been conducted in 13 industries and about 56 chemical products have been covered. Further in-depth studies are under progress. The data and information collected are being processed for drawing inferences in order to arrive at suitable standards for this industry sector.

The Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules 1989 were notified to effectively manage the hazardous waste in the country. About 4.4% of hazardous waste generated in the country has inceneration potential. Besides segregated organic residues, highly concentrated effluents such as mother liquors and toxic effluents not feasible for physico-chemical or biological treatment also require proper disposal through incineration. Incineration of hazardous waste from many industries is a task that requires comprehensive knowledge & skill in respect of chemistry, thermal engineering and environmental engineering.

The Central Pollution Control Board attempted to study the common incineration facilities, which are in operation in the country as follow up of recommendations of the Expert Committee. CPCB interacted with the European operators of the incineration facilities/regulators/implementing officers for formulation of guidelines and standards for common hazardous waste incinerators in the country. Prof. Thomas Kolb of Thermal Waste Treatment Division, Karlsruhe University, Germany, an expert engaged under the GTZ-ASEM programme, helped in formulation of these standards. CPCB published "Guidelines for Common Hazardous Waste Incineration". The Central Board in its 133rd meeting approved the standards for common incineration facilities and subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, for issuance of the Notification under the Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules.

Treated flue gas emissions discharge through stack to atmosphere shall always be less than or equal to the following parameter-specific emission standards:

CPCB has initiated a project for the development of standards for individual industry specific chemical waste Incinerators. A two-day workshop on chemical waste incineration was organized in collaboration with German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) under ASEM programme at Delhi during April 28-29, 2005 to discuss various issues to be addressed and to interact with nodal officers of SPCBs in accomplishing indepth studies. So far indepth studies have been conducted for six incinerators (three individual industry incinerators and three common hazardous waste incinerators). The study is under progress.

As CPCB has already recommended standards for common hazardous waste incinerators and published a document on "Guidelines for Common Hazardous Waste Incineration", the performance evaluation of common hazardous waste incinerators has been taken up. The samples collected are being analyzed.

Prof. Thomas Kolb, GTZ expert from Germany visited India during April, 2005 for providing input to the project. A two-day interactive meet has been conducted in collaboration with GTZ-ASEM for scientists of CPCB, SPCBs and other reputed laboratories to recommend sampling and analysis methods for monitoring of flue gas emissions from chemical waste incinerators.

One of the industry for which the emission standards are yet to be developed is bulk drug industry. The bulk drug industries mostly adopt batch process to manufacture pharmaceutical products. Due to diversity in manufacturing processes, the environmental problems associated are complex. To identify the emission sources and to develop air emission standards for bulk drug industry, a study has been initiated by the Central Board with the help of an expert.

CPCB has prepared a Comprehensive Industry Document on Bullion Industry providing information on production, the processes employed, raw material used, pollution generated, pollution control practices and proposed National Standards for the industry, keeping in view the Best Practicable Technology (BPT) and affordability under the prevailing conditions. While formulating the National Standards, due considerations were given to the facts that (a) refining is in the corporate sector involving large-scale industrial operation and (b) numerous tiny individual units in unrecognized sector, are engaged in scrap gold refining. Only the former sector has the means and the capability of implementing adequate standards. In case of large-scale units, the emission of heavy metals, cyanide and fluorides etc. as pollutants are proposed to be controlled in a progressive manner thus the proposed higher standards are to be achieved over a specified period of time. Parameters and frequency of monitoring are also suggested. The proposed effluent and emission standards are under finalisation.

Sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) plants emit oxides of sulphur and acid mist in the atmosphere. Presently, emission limits are prescribed as 4.0 kg/tonne of concentrated (100%) acid produced for SO_x and 50 mg/nm³ for acid mist. In recent years, some large sulphuric acid plants have been established, which require further reduction in emissions of these pollutants. In addition, improved process & pollution control technologies are also available.

In view of the above, existing standards for sulphuric acid plants were reviewed. Revised standards linked to production capacities, were finalized in the 18^th Peer & Core Committee and approved by the Board in its 132^nd meeting held on January 04, 2005 and forwarded to MoEF for notification under E (P) Act, 1986.

CPCB has taken up a project for description of Clean Technology for iron ore mining and development of Environmental Standard and preparation of comprehensive document.

Final report of the project has been prepared. Presentation on the findings of the report and meeting to discuss the various environmental issues highlighted in the report has been called. It has also been planned to carry out field monitoring of a few more Iron Ore Mines to have realistic database.

Development of Environmental Standards for Sponge Iron Plants

The project "Description of Clean Technology for Sponge Iron Plants and Development of Environmental Standards" has been initiated in collaboration with MECON Limited. The proposed standards and code of practice for pollution prevention has been placed before the Board and is to be placed in the Chairman and Member Secretary Conference held at Mumbai on January 5, 2006. As decided in the meeting, the standards and code of practice for pollution prevention for sponge iron plants has been discussed with the State Pollution Control Boards, where majority of the sponge iron plants are located.

CPCB in collaboration with National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa conducted studies on marine water quality around the Soda Ash industry located in Saurashtra region to asses the impact due to discharge of waste water on marine ecosystem. The draft report based on the revealed chemical and biological characteristics of marine water quality submitted by NIO, Goa has suggested that the conditions are unfavourable upto 500 m. To mitigate the adverse impact, the effluent should be disposed off through diffuser system at the depth of 5 m below low tide levels at effluent velocity of > 3 m/sec and with suitable concentration of suspended solids level to avoid clogging in diffuser and pipeline.

The technology being adopted distillery industries to provide solution to achieve zero discharge is based on enhanced natural evaporation of the distillery effluent. The evaporator throws the effluent into the atmosphere in the form of mist, a part of which gets evaporated before it reaches to the ground. This unit is used to lift the waste aloft and allow evaporation to occur. The technology has been adopted by M/s Vindyachal Distilleries, Philukhedi and the performance studies of turbo-mist evaporators are being undertaken.

The CPCB engaged Prof. R. H. Siddiqi as a consultant under the GTZ project to review the irrigation and composting protocols prescribed by the Board visa-vis the current practices followed by distilleries in the country and to evaluate the performance of new technologies for concentration of spent wash. Prof. R. H. Siddiqi has submitted a draft document in October 2005.

The report suggests that TDS and chlorides value will control the dilution rate of spent wash for its use in irrigation. Based on practical values of TDS, sodium, chlorides and BOD it has been suggested that a 12-15-fold dilution may be required in case of ferti-irrigation. It has been observed that discharge of effluents having the prescribed quality may result in concentration of salts in the soil. Further, the report emphasizes consideration of salt balance and annual salt leaching rates in various types of soils and climatic zones while reviewing the protocol so that problem of salinity and alkalinity do not develop with continuous use of spent wash for irrigation. The final report is under preparation.

Petrochemical industry in India is well established and has recorded a steady growth in the Indian industrial scenario. Petroleum refining is now the largest manufacturing industry in India where petroleum products account for 10% of GNP. The petrochemical industry has shown the fastest growth rate the world over. Petroleum refinery and petrochemical complexes necessarily involve processing and handling of large quantities of hazardous material. The risk may be reduced by good design, but they cannot be totally eliminated and therefore some evaluation of the risk has to be made in order to determine its acceptability in a given location. The most significant hazards are often associated with the fire and explosion potential of flammable materials, or the toxicity of some materials, which are used in a large quantity. The long-term effects on human beings and the environment due to accidental and operational exposure to toxic intermediates or potential by-products have added a new dimension to the risk assessment during the last decade.

The study recommended guidelines for preparation of risk assessment reports for petroleum refineries and petrochemical installations where flammable chemicals are handled in large quantities.

In order to assess Environmental Statements submitted by industries in comliance with provisions of Rules under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986, the project "Review of Environmental Statements Submitted by the Industries" has been taken-up by MoEF and implemented by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Review of Environmental Statements ES for sugar, thermal power, petrochemical, oil refinery, textile, cement, Iron & Steel, pesticide industry, Pulp & Paper and Tannery have been completed and others are in the process of finalisation. The outcome of the exercise has been utilised for setting environmental benchmarks for attainment by all the industries. A similar exercise is being undertaken for other sectors to promote systematic improvement in association with GTZ.

Awareness programmes on "Environmental Statements including Waste Minimisation, Environmental Auditing & Management System" for the industrialists and regulatory officials have been organised for sugar, thermal power, petrochemical, oil refinery, textile, cement, pesticide and iron & steel industries to make them aware of the requirement of providing appropriate data/information in the environmental statements and to make the Environment Statements a pro-active tool i) for self-examination of the industry, ii) to reduce/minimise pollution by adopting process modifications, recycling and reuse of the resources and iii) to provide awareness about modified environmental statements, its requirements and the processing of the information provided in the environmental statements submitted by the industries.

The chemicals need to be managed properly in order to achieve a sustainable economic development and to attain a high level of environmental and human health protection. An important initial step in strengthening systems in countries for risk reduction and management of chemicals is the preparation of a comprehensive assessment of the national infrastructure relating to the legal, institutional, administrative and technical aspects of chemicals management, along with an understanding of the nature and extent of chemicals availability and use throughout their life cycle in the country.

National Chemicals Management Profile is being prepared through stakeholder consultation process under the Canada-India Environmental Institutional Strengthening Project. It will help assess the national infrastructure for the management of chemicals in the country and to identify the gaps for capacity building and priority areas of concern to improve chemicals management. The key principle of preparing the Profile is the involvement of all concerned stakeholders in the country. To ensure a broad stakeholder involvement, a National Coordinating Committee (NCC) has been constituted to oversee the preparation of the Profile and guarantee the full participation and contribution of interested parties. Three Working Groups (Legal, Technical and Infrastructure) have been established to guide the preparation of the data inputs and make the initial assessment and analysis of the available information. Technical Assistance from UNITAR through two Indian consultants was made available, for preparation of Chemical Profile, under the guidance of the three Working Groups.