  |
|
| HIGHLIGHTS 1999 |
| NEWS
FROM THE STATES Index
ANDHRA PRADESH The endeavour of Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board is to integrate environmental considerations in development. Accordingly, a vision strategy and action plan under the 'Environment and Ecology' platform, changed to 'Clean and Green Andhra Pradesh' in January 1999, was developed bringing together private and public sector initiatives. Fixing Distance Criteria: Fixing and implementing distance criteria for important categories of small industries like pulverising, parboiled rice-mills, lime-kilns, stone-crushers and cashew processing units among the 64 polluting categories of small scale industries, have relieved the Regional Officers of using discretion in decision making. Collection of Environmental Samples: A major achievement of the year was the collection of environmental samples from degraded sub-basins, the three CETPs, degraded water bodies, preparing scientific health-impact assessments and preparing and implementing conservation and management plans for contaminated lakes. The ambient air data is displayed for public viewing on digitised displays at Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. Public Air Quality digital displays are being extended to Vijaywada and Tirupati in the next two months. Hazardous Waste Management: The year saw significant achievements in activating the Jeedimetla Waste Management Plan. The Kukatpally sub-basin Waste Audit programme was taken up by voluntary mass-balances from 32 industries of the Jeedimetla area. Updating the Toxic Resources Inventory for more than 300 industries was completed for new and continuing authorisations under Section 3 and 5 of the Hazardous Waste Management Rules Bio-Medical Waste Management: The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, has already approved setting up of common collection, treatment and disposal facilities for Bio-medical Wastes in Hyderabad (two) and Visakhapatnam (one). Notifications: Following important notifications were proposed by the APPCB in the year.
System Improvements: Systems improvements in the year include activating the committee system for decision making on consents to establish and operate at both the head office and regional office levels. Documentation Centre: The commencement of the Documentation Centre and computerised registration of grievances are another effort to bring PCB closer to the information seeker and the environmental victims. The documentation centre has coordinated public hearings, prepared awareness Audio-Visuals and conducted workshops and exhibitions for awareness creation, including hosting the Southern NGO's conference. Streamlining of the Legal Cell: The Legal cell has been streamlined and important cases having National significance, successfully litigated. The ten year old Supreme Court case concerning the 3 CETPs has been successfully brought to a decision phase, with the Joint Action Plan of the APPCB and the CPCB approved for implementation and monitoring. APPCB filed an SLP in the Supreme Court of India against the orders of the Appellate Authority in the Case of M/s Surana Oil Industries. In this case, the PCB's argument is not to permit 'Red' category industries to establish within the catchments of eco-sensitive water bodies. Cess: The APPCB has performed creditably in the collection of Cess and Consent fees this year. The targets have been over-achieved under both heads by about 40%. The Consent fees are bringing more point sources into the consent regime, which helps better monitoring through repeated reviews, inspections and monitoring. 995 industries are now brought into the Cess regime and private bore wells are also assessed in these industries for payment of Cess. Environmental Awareness Programmes: The Environment Education (Documentation Centre) Wing of the Board has spread the message of environment protection among citizens in general and children in particular. Future Strategy: In the second year of implementing the Vision 2020 project under ''Clean and Green'' Andhra Pradesh, the AP Pollution Control Board's future strategy involves achieving the twenty year goals of the Vision programme, i.e.
GUJARAT Effluent generated from GIDC Nandesari is now treated and discharged in to 55.3 km long effluent disposal channel upto Gulf of Cambay which is functioning since 1980 to carry treated effluents of in and around Vadodara industrial areas. Thus the river Mini is now made free from any industrial discharge. NOC of the Board is compulsory for S.S.I. registration, allotment of plot/shed in GIDC estate, power supply, financial assistance etc. Gujarat was the first to provide financial assistance for collection, common effluent treatment and disposal facilities. During 1999 GPCB has issued 412 NOCs. Gujarat has adopted and encouraged the concept of common effluent treatment plant. There are 11 CETPs functioning in Gujarat. During the year 1999 the CETPs installed and commissioned are at Vatva, Odhav and Naroda - [all 3 near Ahmedabad], GIDC Sachin [Surat] and Sarigam [Valsad]. Gujarat is the first State in the country to identify and notify the potential dump sites for hazardous wastes. 20 such sites are being developed on individual and joint participation basis in Gujarat. Over 2900 industries have provided storage site for hazardous waste. Gujarat is first to implement the GIS [Geographic Information System] based hazardous wastes tracking system. During the year 1999 all the GPCB offices are equipped with computers. Gujarat has adopted and encouraged the concept of common hazardous waste disposal facilities. Development of such facility at GIDC Ankleshwar, Odhav-Ahmedabad, Nandesari-Vadodara, Vapi is promoted and set up by the Industries Association. So far 49 Environmental Public Hearings for a new industry or for expansion have been organised. The information and views of public as well as NGOs are exchanged on this forum. KERALA Water Pollution Control
Air Pollution Control
Public Awareness As part of the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Board conducted two seminars during the year 1999. The first seminar was organised during 4th and 5th June, 1999 at Thiruvananathapuram on ''Municipal Solid Waste Management''. The second seminar was held on 18th December, 1999 at Kozhikode on ''Bio-Medical Waste Management''. For making the school children environmentally aware, the Board arranged district and state level Essay Competition, on subjects related to environment, the High School Students during September, 1999. The District level Winners were awarded with merit certificate and the State Level winners were awarded with cash prizes. A leaflet on solid waste management was released during the year to make aware the local bodies to handle the solid waste properly. KARNATAKA Seminar On Solid Waste Management: The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board had organised a one day Seminar on Solid Waste Management as an awareness programme to local civic authorities and NGOs. One of the conclusion drawn was to educate/bring awareness to local authorities by giving training at local bodies through Environment Training Institute. Urban Eco-Park: On 8th February, 1999, Foundation Stone for Karnataka State Pollution Control Board's Urban Eco-park at Peenya industrial Area, was laid by Hon'ble Minister for Ecology & Environment. Online Ambient Air Quality Monitoring: Karnataka State Pollution Control Board in association with Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Government of Karnataka, has established six online Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations at strategic locations of Bangalore City. The objective of establishing online monitoring system is to know the concentration of various pollutants like Carbon Monoxide, Ozone, Sulphur Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen in the Ambient Air. In addition to the above air pollutants, the system records wind velocity, wind direction and ambient temperature. This data will help to plan for the future development of the city. Parisara Vahini: Board has launched three Parisara Vahini Vehicles (Maruti Vans fitted with public address system). The objective of this is to bring awareness to the vehicle owners to control emission from their vehicles. The Vahini will register the vehicle number of the vehicle emitting thick smoke and the vehicle number will be sent to Transport Department for further action.
Webpage: Karnataka State Pollution Control Board Webpage (www.kspcb.com) was launched on 13th February, 1999. The Webpage of the Board will facilitate the public, industrialists, NGO's about the activities of the Board. Computerisation of the Activities of the Board: The Board has taken up computerisation of all its activities. In this direction computer of all the Regional and Divisional Offices and Head Office of the Board are equipped with required hardware. Software development for Consent Management is under progress and will be in operation from January 2000. The Board has also proposed to inter link all the Offices with the Head Office through internet. MADHYA PRADESH Emergency Response Centre (ERC) has been established, which works for the prevention of adverse effects of chemical accidents on humans and environment. At present ERC provides technical assistance during chemical disasters. Recently, during the Cyclone of Orissa there was a possibility of the blasting of ammonia tankers in two industries - Paradeep Phosphate & Fertilizers and Oswal Chemical & Fertilizers Ltd – at that moment ERC had provided valuable information on technology and first-aid. The workshop on Green Production in industries was organised for the industries situated in Indore and Bhopal, with the help of Asian Productivity Organisation, Japan. Asian Productivity Organisation has also accepted to establish a pilot project for green production in Rama Phosphate Industry, Indore. The work on Zoning Atlas for siting of industries was started for the proposed industrial estate in Bina, Sagar District. The air pollution load in Satna –Riva- Caimore region is being assessed by Sodar method. The project was started in August 1999, and is first of its kind in the country. It will continue for two years and is jointly funded by industries (especially cement industries), CPCB and Envirotech Instruments Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. The proposal for a combined treatment system for hazardous industrial wastes generated in Indore, Pithampura, Ghata-Billore and Devas region, has been approved. International Development Agency, Canada, Ministry of Environment and Forests and CII are helping in the project. With the help of State Pollution Control Board, 12 industries situated in Madhya Pradesh have been awarded ISO-14001 certification and another 13 industries are in the pipeline. Four medical colleges in the State have already installed incinerators to treat biomedical wastes. Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board has identified 750 hospitals, nursing homes, veterinary hospitals and such institutions which fall under the purview of Bio-medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998, and issued guidelines to them. To get the authorisation from the Board, 45 applications have been received and 6 of them got clearances. Bhopal Municipal Corporation is planning to establish a combined treatment system for biomedical wastes. Board has established an Internet website which provides information on activities of the Board, Rules and regulations, National River Conservation Plan and Vehicular pollution. Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board considers mass awareness and people’s involvement in environmental protection as an important activity. For this, many exhibitions, camps, competitions and workshops were organised. ASSAM
|
 |
 |
