Frequently Asked Questions.
What are the important Environmental Laws in
the country?
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1974;
- Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981,
- Cess Act, 1977, - Environment (Protection)
Act, 1986 and Rules there under
- Public Liability Insurance Act, 1981,
- National Environmental Tribunal Act, 1995
- National Environment Appellate Authority
Act, 1997
What are the different programes/activities
implemented through State Pollution Control Board?
State Boards are implementing following programmes
- Pollution control in 17 categories of highly
polluting industries
- Pollution control from industries
discharging waste water into rivers and lakes
- Inventorization of pollution industries in
the State and ensuring their compliance to the Pollution control norms
- Restoration of environmental quality in
critically polluted areas
- Monitoring of water and ambient air quality
in the States
- Hazardous waste
- Bio-medical and Management of Municipal
Solid Wastes
What steps have been taken to control
vehicular pollution?
Major initiatives taken to control vehicular pollution include the
following
- Emission Standards for Tractors :
Emission norms for tractors were notified on 8.9.1999 under the
Central Motor Vehicle Rules is effective from 1.10.1999.
- India 2000 Emission Norms akin to
Euro-I Norms: Emission norms known as India 2000 akin to Euro I
norms was notified on 28.8.1997 under the Central Motor Vehicle
Rules is effective from 1.4.2000 for the entire country,
required major modifications in the engine designs.
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What are sources of water pollution and
wastewater generation scenario?
It is estimated that 75% to 80% of water pollution by volume is caused by
domestic sewage. The major industries causing water pollution include:
distilleries, sugar, textile, electroplating, pesticides, pharmaceuticals,
pulp & paper mills, tanneries, dyes and dye intermediates, petro-chemicals,
steel plants etc. Non-point sources such as fertilizer and pesticide
run-offs in rural areas also cause pollution. Only 60% of chemical
fertilizers are utilized in soils and the balance is leached into soil
polluting the ground water. Excess phosphate run-off leads to eutrophication
in lakes and water bodies.
What are the measures for control of noise
pollution?
Ambient standards in respect of noise for different categories of areas
(residential, commercial, industrial) and silence zones have been notified
under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Noise limits have been
prescribed for automobiles, domestic appliances and construction equipment
at the manufacturing stage. Standards have been evolved and notified for the
gen sets, fire crackers and coal mines. Regulatory agencies have been
directed to enforce the standards for control and regulate noise pollution.
What are the steps taken to control vehicular
pollution?
The following steps are taken:
- Establishment of Ambient Air Quality
Monitoring throughout
India
- Notification of Ambient Air Quality
Standards under Environment (Protection) Act.
- Notification of vehicular emission
norms for year 1990-91,1996, 1998, 2000, 2001
- Improving fuel quality by phasing
out lead from gasoline, reducing diesel sulphur, reducing
gasoline benzene, and etc.
- Introduction of alternate fuelled
vehicles like CNG/LPG.
- Improvement of public transport
system.
- Phasing out of grossly polluting
commercial vehicles.
- Public awareness & campaigns.
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What is the impact of the steps to Ambient Air
Quality?
Impacts of the steps taken in Delhi: All
regulatory pollutants show a decreasing trend in concentrations in
Delhi. CO decreased to 3069 ug/m3 in 2000-2001 from
5450 ug/m3 in 1998. NO2 decreased from 75 ug/m3 in 1996 to 59 ug/m3 in 2000.
Lead which is harmful especially for children, decreased remarkably due to
phasing out of lead from gasoline. Another critical pollutant RSPM also
shows a decreasing trend in Delhi.
What steps have been taken to control noise
pollution due to fire crackers?
The Govt. of India has enacted noise standards for fire-crackers vide
G.S.R.682(E), dated 5th October, 1999, in an effort to control noise
pollution due to fire crackers Recently in March 2001, Central Pollution
Control Board in association with National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Delhi
initiated a study on measurement of noise levels of fire-crackers available
in the market. The study indicates that 95% of the fire-crackers samples
exceed the prescribed noise limits. Consequently, CPCB issued notice under
Section 5, of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to the Department of
Explosives, Nagpur,
to take immediate steps to control manufacturing of fire-crackers exceeding
the prescribed limits. All the State Pollution Control Boards/Committees
were also requested to initiate steps to control sale of fire-crackers
exceeding the notified limits, in consultation with their respective local
administrations.
What steps have been taken to control noise
pollution due to loud-speakers?
The Govt. of India has enacted Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control)
Rules, 2000 vide S.O.123(E), dated 14th February, 2000. The Rule deals with
provisions to control noise pollution due to loud-speakers and public
address system, as given below :
Restriction on the use of loud speakers/utility address system :
- A loud speaker or a public address
system shall not be used except after obtaining written
permission from the authority.
- A loud speaker or a public address
system shall not be used at night (between 10.00 p.m. to 6.00
p.m.) except in closed premises for communication within e.g.
auditoria, conference rooms, community halls and banquet halls.
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What steps have been taken to control noise
pollution from generator sets?
The Central Pollution Control Board, in association with the Indian
Institute of Science, Bangalore,
had developed systems for control of noise pollution from diesel generator
sets as well as from petrol/kerosene generator sets. Based on this, the
noise standards for diesel and petrol/kerosene generator sets have been
developed and notified
What steps have been taken to control noise
pollution in the country?
- Ambient noise standards were notified in
1989, which formed the basis for State Pollution Control Boards to
initiate action against violating sources.
- The vehicular noise standards, notified in
1990, are being implemented by Ministry of Science and Technology, to
reduce traffic noise. These standards have been made more stringent vide
a notification in September 2000 and will be effective from January,
2003.
- Noise standards for diesel genset were
prescribed in Dec. 1998. Govt. has been pursuing with State Pollution
Control Boards, generator manufacturing and major users, for
implementation of these standards. Presently these standards are being
revised (the MoEF is in the process of issuing notification) making it
mandatory for all generator manufacturers to provide acoustic enclosure
at the manufacturing stage itself. This will have a major impact on
noise from DG sets.
- Noise standards for fire-crackers were
developed in October, 1999. Central Pollution Control Board had carried
out a compliance testing of the fire crackers available in the market
and also taken up with the Department of Explosives for compliance with
these standards.
- Noise standards for petrol and kerosene
generator sets were notified in September, 2000, and will be effective
from September, 2002. The sale of these gensets will be prohibited if
not certified by the testing agencies, identified for the purpose.
- The Noise Rules, 2000, regulates noise due
to Public Address System/ Loud speakers and also prescribed procedures
for noise complaint handling.
- Central Pollution Control Board has taken up
a study on aircraft noise monitoring in Indira
Gandhi
International
Airport, Delhi.
This will be followed by development of guidelines/ standards for
aircraft noise.
-
What are the laws enforced by of the Pollution
Control Boards ?
The Central and State Pollution Control Boards were set up for
enforcement of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Over
the years, the Boards have been assigned additional responsibilities which
include the following :
- Water (Prevention & Control of
Pollution) Cess Act, 1977.
- Air (Prevention & Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
and Rules made thereunder
- Hazardous Waste (Management &
Handling) Rules1989.
- Manufacture, storage and Import of
Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989
- Bio-medical Waste (Management &
Handling) Rules, 1998
- Municipal Solid Waste (Management &
Handling) Rules, 2000.
- Plastics wastes Rules, 1999 o
Coastal Regulation Zone Rules, 1991
- Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
|
What are the specific functions of the
Pollution Control Boards?
Functions of Central Pollution Control Board :
- Advise the Central Government on
matters relating to pollution;
- Coordinate the activities of the
State Boards;
- Provide Technical assistance to the
State Boards, carry out and sponsor investigations and research
relating to control of pollution;
- Plan and organize training of
personnel;
- Collect, compile and publish
technical and statistical data, prepare manuals and code of
conduct.
- To lay down standards;
- To plan nation wide programme for
pollution control.
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Functions of the State Pollution Control Boards:
- To advise the State Government on
matter relating to pollution and on siting of industries
- To plan programme for pollution
control;
- To collect and disseminate
information;
- To carry our inspection;
- To lay down effluent and emission
standards;
- To issue consent to industries and
other activities for compliance of prescribed emission and
effluent standards,
|
What are the 17 Categories of the major
polluting industries?
- Aluminium Smelter
- Caustic Soda
- Cement
- Copper Smelter
- Distilleries
- Dyes & Dye Intermediates
- Fertiliser
- Integrated Iron & Steel
- Tanneries
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- Pesticides
- Petrochemicals
- Drugs & Pharmaceuticals
- Pulp & Paper
- Oil Refineries
- Sugar
- Thermal Power Plants
- Zinc Smelter
|
What actions have been taken on the 17
categories of the industries which have come into operation after 1991 i.e.
the Post-91 industries ?
The inventorization of the Post-91 large and medium industries of 17
categories have been completed. A total of 587 such industries have been
identified and out of these, 561 units are presently operating. Although, it
was mandatory for these units to have been allowed only if they had the
requisite pollution control facilities, there latest compliance status is
being verified.
What are the details of the programme on
pollution control in the Problem Areas?
A programme for pollution control through concerted efforts in polluted
areas was started in 1989. The programme involves identification of the
polluted areas, intensive surveys of these areas for identification of
polluting sources, preparation of action plans for control of these
polluting sources, and implementation of the action points by the concerned
responsible agencies/industries.
Number of Problem areas identified so far and
what is their status in respect of the control of pollution from the
industries existing in these areas?
- 24 Problem Areas have been identified for
priority action in the country. Out of these 24 areas, the action plans
have been implemented in respect of 16 namely, Bhadravati, Chembur,
Digboi, Gobindgarh, Greater-Cochin, Kala-Amb, Manali, Nagda-Ratlam,
North-Arcot, Pali, Parwanoo, Patancheru-Bollaram, Talcher, Vapi,
Vishakhapatnam and Ankleshwar, and are under implementation in the
remaining 8, namely Dhanbad, Durgapur, Howrah, Jodhpur, Korba, Najafgarh
Drain Basin Delhi, Singrauli, and Tarapur
- There are total of 152 large and medium
polluting industries located in these areas, out of which 17 are closed
and all the remaining 134 industries have provided the requisite
pollution control facilities.
-
What are the industrial pollution programmes
existing which are based on the concept of sustainable development?
The industrial pollution control programmes which incorporate the concept
of sustainable development are :
- Environmental auditing and
submission of the annual environmental statements by the
industries
- Conducting of EIA studies before
establishment of new polluting industries
- Change over to clean technologies
for example mercury cell to membrane cells in chloralkali
plants.
- Zoning Atlas of Siting Industries;
and
- Eco-labeling of environment-friendly
products
|
What are the incentives to the industries for
pollution control ?
The steps taken by the various categories of the industries for reduction
in the generation of the pollutants are as follows:
- Commissioning of the stand-by power
supply systems by chlor-alkali plants reduce mercury emission
due to power failures
- Introduction of blending system for
coal homogenisation in cement plants to ensure stable operation
of the ESPs
- Conversion of single hood to the
double hood system in copper smelters to reduce the fugitive
emissions
- Biomethanation of the effluents in
distillerie
- Solar evaporation ponds in
small-scale water polluting units not having CETPs in the
proximity
- Conversion of the open hearth
furnaces (OHF) to the basic oxygen furnaces (BOF) and
introduction of the dry system (instead of wet) for the
quenching of the hot coke in iron & steel plants
- Commissioning of chemical recovery
plants (CRPs) by pulp & paper industries; and
- Change over the DCDA production
method by sulphuric acid
|
What are the important Environmental Laws in
the country?
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1974;
- Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981,
- Cess Act, 1977,
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules
thereunder
- Public Liability Insurance Act, 1981,
- National Environmental Tribunal Act, 1995
- National Environment Appellate Authority
Act, 1997
What are the different programes/activities
implemented through State Pollution Control Board?
State Boards are implementing following programmes:
- Pollution control in 17 categories
of highly polluting industries
- Pollution control from industries
discharging waste water into rivers and lakes.
- Inventorization of pollution
industries in the State and ensuring their compliance to the
pollution control norms
- Restoration of environmental quality
in critically polluted areas
- Monitoring of water and ambient air
quality in the States
- Hazardous waste
- Bio-medical and Management of
Municipal Solid Wastes
|
What are the projects taken up for strengthening of
Pollution Control Boards with World Bank assistance.
With the assistance of the World Bank, following three environmental
projects have been undertaken to strengthen monitoring and enforcement
capability of selected Pollution Control Boards/ Committees and to perform
specific studies to prevent environmental degradation.
- Industrial Pollution Project (IPC)- Signed
in 1991 and completed in 1999;
- Industrial Pollution Prevention Project
(IPP)- Signed in 1994 and its implementation is
in progress;
-
Environmental Management
Capacity
Building
Technical Assistance Project (EMCBTA)- Signed in 1997 and its
implementation is in progress
Names of the State Pollution Control Boards/ Committees
covered under the projects for strengthening.
Besides Central Pollution Control Board and its zonal offices, following
22 State Pollution Control Boards/ Pollution Control Committees have been
covered under the projects. These are
Andhra Pradesh,
Assam, Bihar, Delhi,
Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala,
Maharahstra, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Orissa,
Pondicherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar
Pradesh and West Bengal.
Whether SPCBs and PCCs are getting adequate
financial support from State Governments and what is the financial status?
SPCBs are getting only marginal/ nominal financial assistance from State
Governments. In some of the State Pollution Control Boards, State
Governments are not providing budgetary grants. State Pollution Control
Boards are dependent on consent and authorization fee and cess
reimbursements which they get out of cess collections.
Whether Ministry provides financial assistance to State
Pollution Control Boards.
Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) provides financial assistance
to State pollution Control Boards on specific projects relating to
prevention and control of pollution. Ministry provides financial assistance
on following programmes:
- Specific projects for abatement of pollution
- Hazardous waste management
- Management of municipal solid waste
- Strengthening of Pollution Control Boards
(for laboratory upgrdation)
Whether State Pollution Control Boards/
Pollution Control Committees are following uniform rules/ procedures for
implementation of pollution control rules.
State Pollution Control Boards have framed rules as per approval of State
Governments. More or less, procedure and rules followed by State Pollution
Control Boards are similar.
What are the laws enforced by of the Pollution
Control Boards ?
The Central and State Pollution Control Boards were set up for
enforcement of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Over
the years, the Boards have been assigned additional responsibilities which
include the following :
- Water (Prevention & Control of
Pollution) Cess Act, 1977.
- Air (Prevention & Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
and Rules made thereunder
- Hazardous Waste (Management &
Handling) Rules1989.
- Manufacture, storage and Import of
Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989
- Bio-medical Waste (Management &
Handling) Rules, 1998
- Municipal Solid Waste (Management &
Handling) Rules, 2000.
- Plastics wastes Rules, 1999 o
Coastal Regulation Zone Rules, 1991
- Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
|
What are the sources of fund for the Central
and State Pollution Control Boards ?
The Central Pollution Control Board is fully funded by the Central
Ministry of Environment & Forests. The State Pollution Control Boards
receive funds from the concerned State Governments and from the Central
Ministry of Environment & Forests through reimbursement of Water Cess (upto
80%) collected by the respective State Boards. In addition, the State Boards
receive fees for processing for applications from the industries for issuing
consent in regard to discharge of effluent and emissions.
What are the programmes taken up for
Industrial Pollution Control ?
The programmes covering direct control of
effluents/ emissions, and hazardous wastes from the industries taken
up are as follows:
- Industrial Pollution Control
along the river Ganga,
- Pollution Control in 17
Categories of major polluting industries,
- Industrial pollution control
along the rivers and lakes,
- Pollution Control in Problem
Areas, and
- Surprise inspection of
polluting industries
|
|
What are the 17 Categories of the major
polluting industries?
- Aluminium Smelter
- Caustic Soda
- Cement
- Copper Smelter
- Distilleries
- Dyes & Dye Intermediates
- Fertiliser
- Integrated Iron & Steel
- Tanneries
|
- Pesticides
- Petrochemicals
- Drugs & Pharmaceuticals
- Pulp & Paper
- Oil Refineries
- Sugar
- Thermal Power Plants
- Zinc Smelter
|
What actions have been taken on the 17
categories of the industries which have come into operation after 1991 i.e.
the Post-91 industries ?
The inventorization of the Post-91 large and medium industries of 17
categories have been completed. A total of 587 such industries have been
identified and out of these, 561 units are presently operating. Although, it
was mandatory for these units to have been allowed only if they had the
requisite pollution control facilities, there latest compliance status is
being verified.
What are the details of the programme on
pollution control in the Problem Areas?
A programme for pollution control through concerted efforts in polluted
areas was started in 1989. The programme involves identification of the
polluted areas, intensive surveys of these areas for identification of
polluting sources, preparation of action plans for control of these
polluting sources, and implementation of the action points by the concerned
responsible agencies/industries.
Number of Problem areas identified so far and what is
their status in respect of the control of pollution from the industries
existing in these areas?
- 24 Problem Areas have been identified for
priority action in the country. Out of these 24 areas, the action plans
have been implemented in respect of 16 namely, Bhadravati, Chembur,
Digboi, Gobindgarh, Greater-Cochin, Kala-Amb, Manali, Nagda-Ratlam,
North-Arcot, Pali, Parwanoo, Patancheru-Bollaram, Talcher, Vapi,
Vishakhapatnam and Ankleshwar, and are under implementation in the
remaining 8, namely Dhanbad, Durgapur, Howrah, Jodhpur, Korba, Najafgarh
Drain Basin Delhi, Singrauli, and Tarapur
- There are total of 152 large and medium
polluting industries located in these areas, out of which 17 are closed
and all the remaining 134 industries have provided the requisite
pollution control facilities.
-
What are the industrial pollution programmes
existing which are based on the concept of sustainable development?
The industrial pollution control programmes which incorporate the concept
of sustainable development are :
- Environmental auditing and
submission of the annual environmental statements by the
industries
- Conducting of EIA studies before
establishment of new polluting industries
- Change over to clean technologies
for example mercury cell to membrane cells in chloralkali
plants.
- Zoning Atlas of Siting Industries;
and
- Eco-labeling of environment-friendly
products
|
What are the incentives to the industries for
pollution control ?
The steps taken by the various categories of the industries for reduction
in the generation of the pollutants are as follows:
- Commissioning of the stand-by power
supply systems by chlor-alkali plants reduce mercury emission
due to power failures
- Introduction of blending system for
coal homogenisation in cement plants to ensure stable operation
of the ESPs
- Conversion of single hood to the
double hood system in copper smelters to reduce the fugitive
emissions
- Biomethanation of the effluents in
distillerie
- Solar evaporation ponds in
small-scale water polluting units not having CETPs in the
proximity
- Conversion of the open hearth
furnaces (OHF) to the basic oxygen furnaces (BOF) and
introduction of the dry system (instead of wet) for the
quenching of the hot coke in iron & steel plants
- Commissioning of chemical recovery
plants (CRPs) by pulp & paper industries; and
- Change over the DCDA production
method by sulphuric acid
|
What are the important Environmental Laws in
the country?
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1974;
- Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981,
- Cess Act, 1977,
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules
thereunder
- Public Liability Insurance Act, 1981,
- National Environmental Tribunal Act, 1995
- National Environment Appellate Authority
Act, 1997
-
What are the different programes/activities
implemented through State Pollution Control Board?
State Boards are implementing following programmes:
- Pollution control in 17 categories
of highly polluting industries
- Pollution control from industries
discharging waste water into rivers and lakes.
- Inventorization of pollution
industries in the State and ensuring their compliance to the
pollution control norms
- Restoration of environmental quality
in critically polluted areas
- Monitoring of water and ambient air
quality in the States
- Hazardous waste
- Bio-medical and Management of
Municipal Solid Wastes
|
What are the projects taken up for
strengthening of Pollution Control Boards with World Bank assistance.
With the assistance of the World Bank, following three environmental
projects have been undertaken to strengthen monitoring and enforcement
capability of selected Pollution Control Boards/ Committees and to perform
specific studies to prevent environmental degradation.
- Industrial Pollution Project (IPC)- Signed
in 1991 and completed in 1999;
- Industrial Pollution Prevention Project (IPP)-
Signed in 1994 and its implementation is
in progress;
-
Environmental Management
Capacity
Building
Technical Assistance Project (EMCBTA)- Signed in 1997 and its
implementation is in progress
Names of the State Pollution Control Boards/
Committees covered under the projects for strengthening.
Besides Central Pollution Control Board and its zonal offices, following
22 State Pollution Control Boards/ Pollution Control Committees have been
covered under the projects. These are
Andhra Pradesh,
Assam, Bihar, Delhi,
Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala,
Maharahstra, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Orissa,
Pondicherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar
Pradesh and West Bengal.
Whether SPCBs and PCCs are getting adequate
financial support from State Governments and what is the financial status?
SPCBs are getting only marginal/ nominal financial assistance from State
Governments. In some of the State Pollution Control Boards, State
Governments are not providing budgetary grants. State Pollution Control
Boards are dependent on consent and authorization fee and cess
reimbursements which they get out of cess collections.
Whether Ministry provides financial assistance to State
Pollution Control Boards.
Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) provides financial assistance
to State pollution Control Boards on specific projects relating to
prevention and control of pollution. Ministry provides financial assistance
on following programmes:
- Specific projects for abatement of pollution
- Hazardous waste management
- Management of municipal solid waste
- Strengthening of Pollution Control Boards
(for laboratory upgrdation)
Whether State Pollution Control Boards/
Pollution Control Committees are following uniform rules/ procedures for
implementation of pollution control rules.
State Pollution Control Boards have framed rules as per approval of State
Governments. More or less, procedure and rules followed by State Pollution
Control Boards are similar.
What are the laws enforced by of the Pollution
Control Boards ?
The Central and State Pollution Control Boards were set up for
enforcement of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Over
the years, the Boards have been assigned additional responsibilities which
include the following :
- Water (Prevention & Control of
Pollution) Cess Act, 1977.
- Air (Prevention & Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
and Rules made thereunder
- Hazardous Waste (Management &
Handling) Rules1989.
- Manufacture, storage and Import of
Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989
- Bio-medical Waste (Management &
Handling) Rules, 1998
- Municipal Solid Waste (Management &
Handling) Rules, 2000.
- Plastics wastes Rules, 1999 o
Coastal Regulation Zone Rules, 1991
- Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
|
What are the sources of fund for the Central
and State Pollution Control Boards ?
The Central Pollution Control Board is fully funded by the Central
Ministry of Environment & Forests. The State Pollution Control Boards
receive funds from the concerned State Governments and from the Central
Ministry of Environment & Forests through reimbursement of Water Cess (upto
80%) collected by the respective State Boards. In addition, the State Boards
receive fees for processing for applications from the industries for issuing
consent in regard to discharge of effluent and emissions.
What are the programmes taken up for
Industrial Pollution Control ?
The programmes covering direct control of
effluents/ emissions, and hazardous wastes from the industries taken
up are as follows:
- Industrial Pollution Control
along the river Ganga,
- Pollution Control in 17
Categories of major polluting industries,
- Industrial pollution control
along the rivers and lakes,
- Pollution Control in Problem
Areas, and
- Surprise inspection of
polluting industries
|
|