 |
|
An
Assessment of Mercury Pollution Problem at Kothari Industries
Limited, Madras
|
|
Foreword
The
protection of environment against mercury pollution is a very typical
problem in view of its potential hazards to human b~ings. The major
con- sumer of mercury is the Chlor-alkali Industry and maximum proportion
of mercury consumed, apart from carryover with products, is released
into the environment through cell room ventilation, brine sludge
and waste streams. .
The Water (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 provides for a consent system
by which control of pollution at the sources of emanation prior
to discharge into the environment can be effected administratively.
The Central Pollution Control Board under this Act, in collaboration
with the State Po11ution Control Boards, initiated a nationwide
programme of mercury po11ution control in the caustic soda industry
in the year 1982. Prior to this programme, the Minimal National
Standards (MINAS) were developed for the industry after considerable
interaction with the Alkali Manufacturer
|
|
Association
of India. The target date for achieving the MINAS was fixed as January
31, 1984. The present report is a case study which brings out an assessment
of mercury po11ution problem and its control at brings out an assessment
of mercury pollution problem and its control at M/s Kothari Industries
(Madras) Limited. The study was conducted and the report prepared
by Dr. Inamul Haq, Scientist, Central Board. Dr. K.R. Ranganathan,
Member Secretary, supervised the work.
Help rendered by
Shri Vijay Augustus, Assistant Environmental Engineer of Tamil Nadu
Pollution Control Board and Shri B. Prakash, Apprentice Scientist
Central Pollution Control Board, Sectional Office, Pondicherry during
field investigation is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are due to
Dr. S. Chatterjee, Consultant who read the report and provided his
comments. Thanks are also due to Shri A.K. Muradha, Mrs. S. Menon
and Shri Premankur Barua for typing the report neatly and to Shri
Ramesh Singh Shahi for tracing the drawings. |
|
Nilay Chaudhuri
Chairman, CPCB
|
|
