Environment Final Hard Copy

8/9/2019 Environment Final Hard Copy

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/environment-final-hard-copy 1/24

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT(Prof. A. Radharani)

Submitted By:

Nikunj Bhanushali (6)

Mohit Bhat (7)

Chintan Chandarana (8)

Jay Chande (9)

Chetan Dedhia (10)

ACTIVITIES & FAILURES

OF POLLUTION CONTROL

BOARD



~ 2 ~

INDEX

Functions of CPCB 3

Programs &

Projects of CPCB

6

Failures of

Pollution control

Board

20



~ 3 ~

FUNCTIONS OF CENTRAL POLLUTION

CONTROL BOARD (CPCB)

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), statutory organisation, was constituted in

September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Further,

CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of

Pollution) Act, 1981.

It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment

and Forests of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Principal Functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)

Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981,

to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention,

control and abatement of water pollution, and

to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country.

Functions of the Central Board at the National Level

Advise the Central Government on any matter concerning prevention and control of

water and air pollution and improvement of the quality of air.

Plan and cause to be executed a nation-wide programm for the prevention, control or

abatement of water and air pollution

Co-ordinate the activities of the State Board and resolve disputes among them;

Provide technical assistance and guidance to the State Boards, carry out and sponsor

investigation and research relating to problems of water and air pollution, and for their prevention, control or abatement

Plan and organise training of persons engaged in programme on the prevention, control or

abatement of water and air pollution;



~ 4 ~

Organise through mass media, a comprehensive mass awareness programme on the

prevention, control or abatement of water and air pollution

Collect, compile and publish technical and statistical data relating to water and air

pollution and the measures devised for their effective prevention, control or abatement

Prepare manuals, codes and guidelines relating to treatment and disposal of sewage and

trade effluents as well as for stack gas cleaning devices, stacks and ducts;

Disseminate information in respect of matters relating to water and air pollution and their

prevention and control;

Lay down, modify or annul, in consultation with the State Governments concerned, the

standards for stream or well, and lay down standards for the quality of air; and

Perform such other function as may be prescribed by the Government of india

Functions of the Central Board as State Boards for the Union Territories

Advise the Governments of Union Territories with respect to the suitability of any

premises or location for carrying on any industry which is likely to pollute a stream or

well or cause air pollutions.

Lay down standards for treatment of sewage and trade effluents and for emissions from

automobiles, industrial plants, and any other polluting source; Evolve efficient methods

for disposal of sewage and trade effluents on land.

develop reliable and economically viable methods of treatment of sewage, trade effluent

and air pollution control equipment.

Identify any area or areas within Union Territories as air pollution control area or areas to

be notified under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

Assess the quality of ambient water and air, and inspect wastewater treatment

installations, air pollution control equipment, industrial plants or manufacturing process

to evaluate their performance and to take steps for the prevention, control and abatement

of air and water pollution.



~ 5 ~

As per the policy decision of the Government of India, the CPCB has delegated its powers and

functions under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Water

(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 and the Air (Prevention and Control of

Pollution) Act, 1981 with respect to Union Territories to respective local administrations. CPCB

along with its counterparts State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) are responsible for

implementation of legislations relating to prevention and control of environmental pollution.

Some of the important functions of MPCB (maharashtra pollution control board)

To plan comprehensive program for the prevention, control or abatement of pollution and

secure executions thereof.

To collect and disseminate information relating to pollution and the prevention, control or

abatement thereof.

To inspect sewage or trade effluent treatment and disposal facilities, and air pollution

control systems and to review plans, specification or any other data relating to the

treatment plants, disposal systems and air pollution control systems in connection with

the consent granted

Supporting and encouraging the developments in the fields of pollution control, waste

recycle reuse, eco-friendly practices etc.

To educate and guide the entrepreneurs in improving environment by suggestingappropriate pollution control technologies and techniques.

Creation of public awareness about the clean and healthy environment and attending the

public complaints regarding pollution.



~ 6 ~

PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS OF (CPCB)

1) Air Quality / Pollution

NAMP (NATIONAL AIR QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAMME)

Central Pollution Control Board is executing a nation-wide programme of ambient air quality

monitoring known as National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). The network

consists of three hundred and forty two (342) operating stations covering one hundred and

twenty seven (127) cities/towns in twenty six (26) states and four (4) Union Territories of the

country.

The objectives of the N.A.M.P. are to determine status and trends of ambient air quality; to

ascertain whether the prescribed ambient air quality standards are violated; to Identify Non-

attainment Cities; to obtain the knowledge and understanding necessary for developing

preventive and corrective measures and to understand the natural cleansing process undergoing

in the environment through pollution dilution, dispersion, wind based movement, dry deposition,

precipitation and chemical transformation of pollutants generated.

Under N.A.M.P., four air pollutants viz ., Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Oxides of Nitrogen as NO2,

Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM /

PM10) have been identified for regular monitoring at all the locations. The monitoring of

meteorological parameters such as wind speed and wind direction, relative humidity (RH) andtemperature were also integrated with the monitoring of air quality.

Central Pollution Control Board is executing a nation-wide programme of ambient air quality

monitoring known as National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP). The network

consist of 342 operating stations covering 127 cities/towns in 26 States and 4 Union Territories

of the country.

The objectives of the N.A.M.P. are

y

To determine status and trends of ambient air qualityy To ascertain whether the prescribed ambient air quality standards are violated

y To Identify Non-attainment Cities

y To obtain the knowledge and understanding necessary for developing preventive and

corrective measures;



~ 7 ~

To understand the natural cleansing process undergoing in the environment through pollution

dilution, dispersion, wind based movement, dry deposition, precipitation and chemical

transformation of pollutants generated.

2) WATER

CPCB in collaboration with concerned SPCBs/PCCs established a nationwide network of water

quality monitoring comprising 1019 stations in 27 States and 6 Union Territories. The

monitoring is done on monthly or quarterly basis in surface waters and on half yearly basis in

case of ground water. The monitoring network covers 200 Rivers, 60 Lakes, 5 Tanks, 3 Ponds, 3

Creeks, 13 Canals, 17 Drains and 321 Wells. Among the 1019 stations, 592 are on rivers, 65 on

lakes, 17 on drains, 13 on canals, 5 on tanks, 3 on creeks, 3 on ponds and 321 are groundwater

stations.

Water Quality Trend

The water quality monitoring results obtained during 1995 to 2006 indicate that the organic and

bacterial contamination are continued to be critical in water bodies. This is mainly due to

discharge of domestic wastewater mostly in untreated form from the urban centres of the

country. The municipal corporations at large are not able to treat increasing the load of municipal

sewage flowing into water bodies without treatment

Secondly the receiving water bodies also do not have adequate water for dilution. Therefore, theoxygen demand and bacterial pollution is increasing day by day. This is mainly responsible for

water borne diseases.

3) URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Introduction (Scheme under the X Plan)

The urban areas of the country are facing problems of deterioration of environmental and socio-

economic conditions. The major concerns are unplanned and haphazard development, poor

sanitary and living conditions, urbanization and associated problems including slums, poor/inadequate infrastructure and pollution problems. While there are several causes for urban

degradation such as population migration, environmental considerations not adequately being

incorporated into plans (Master Plans), uncoordinated and haphazard development, weak

implementation of plans and laws and inadequate institutional competences, one of the major

concerns is resource crunch.



~ 8 ~

The Government (municipality, local bodies etc.) is not generally having adequate funds to deal

with the needed infrastructure facilities, significantly since they do not have mechanisms for

recovery of investments and to make the services or infrastructure provided sustainable.

However, today there are several mechanisms in operation in various parts of the world. While

private investments are easily forthcoming in profit oriented sectors such as road making, public-

private investments are one way of handling the sectors such as sewerage or garbage or water

supply where the recoveries are to come from the households.

Considering the severely lacking or inadequate infrastructure facilities, deteriorating

environmental quality and living conditions on one hand and the lack of finances, awareness,

adequate technical competences and organizational set up on the other, there is a need for

looking into custom made non-conventional solutions for application.

O bjective:

The overall objective of the Ecocity project under X Plan is to improve environment and bring in

visible results through implementation of identified environmental improvement projects in the

selected towns/cities. The specific objectives are to:

Identify the environmental problems/hotspots in the identified towns and priority environmental

improvement projects through participatory approach;

Designing & detailing the prioritized environmental improvement projects; and creation of

landmarks that shows visible environmental improvement.

Corporate Responsibility for Environmental Protection (CREP)

The Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoEF) has launched the Charter on "Corporate

Responsibility for Environmental Protection (CREP)" in march 2003 with the purpose to go

beyond the compliance of regulatory norms for prevention & control of pollution through

various measures including waste minimization, in-plant process control & adoption of clean

technologies. The Charter has set targets concerning conservation of water, energy, recovery of

chemicals, reduction in pollution, elimination of toxic pollutants, process & management of

residues that are required to be disposed off in an environmentally sound manner. The Charter

enlists the action points for pollution control for various categories of highly polluting industries.The Task Force was constituted for monitoring the progress of implementation of CREP

recommendations/ action points.



~ 9 ~

ACTION POINTS UNDER CREP FOR TANNERY SECTOR

Chrome Recovery

Waste Minimization Measures

Reduction of Water Consumption in Tannery Units Compliance of standards

Management of TotalDissolved Solids (TDS)

Solid Waste Management

Salts from Solar Evaporation

Development of Minimal National Standards (MINAS) for Rubber products

Manufacturing Industries

Electroplating Industry

4) ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING :

Industrialisation is on the increase and so is the environmental pollution due to emissions and

waste generated from these industries. The industrial pollution due to its nature has potential to

cause irreversible reactions in the environment and hence is posing a major threat to sustainable

development. Since the carrying capacity of the environment is not unlimited and some areas or

ecosystems are more susceptible to adverse environmental impacts than others, the unplanned

and haphazard location of industries might substantially increase the risk to the environment.

Presently, regional plans that in-build environmental components and provide for industrial

zones compatible to the surrounding land uses do not exist in India. Hence, the industrial

entrepreneur is forced to purchase a site convenient to him and then apply for clearances.

Normally, an industrial site even if is presently not in an earmarked/notified industrial land use,

the land use conversion is made based on clearances from environmental aspects and other

considerations, such as availability of electricity, water supply, etc.

A proposed site for starting an industry is cleared from environmental angle, after reviewing its

pollution potential and probable impact on the environment, by the State Pollution Control

Boards and the State Environmental Committees or Site Clearance Committees. An industry

cleared from environmental angle will, however, cause pollution to some extent since the

discharge/emission of pollutants are permitted up to a certain amount of tolerable levels.



~ 10~

Such tolerable levels are set based on technological and economic feasibility considerations.

Furthermore, appropriate pollution control equipment provided in an industry to meet the

standards, may not be performing or operating at its desired efficiency all the time which implies

that there is an additional risk of pollution. The site may turnout to be either suitable or

unsuitable.

The present site clearance procedures also insist on carrying out Environmental Impact

Assessment (EIA) for certain projects. The EIA process turns out to be a myopic assessment as

the reports are several times engineered to meet the desired results. Even if an impact is found as

a result of the EIA, the impacts are nullified by changing the manufacturing process or the

treatment technology. However, subsequently the industry may find it not feasible to operate

those modified systems. Also, an EIA is carried out considering the existing surrounding land

use. The industry has no control on land use changes. If a sensitive land use comes up in the

vicinity of the industry, impacts might be noticed even if the industry is meeting the required

standards. Also, EIA is lengthy procedure besides being expensive and, in addition, is proving to be a set back in fast and realistic decision-making process. Due to lack of land use controls

around the industrial sites, areas/uses sensitive to pollution come up in the vicinity of the

industrial areas. The impacts, which are mainly depending on the distances to the receiving

environment, are noticed due to such uncontrolled land use changes. Adoption of strategic EIA

region-wise is being considered appropriate rather than site-specific or project-specific EIA.

There are many disadvantages in the present practice of not defining industrial areas, such

as:

y The entrepreneur has no knowledge of the environmental conditions and consequences of

his industry which depends on the site selected. He may land up investing in an

environmentally extremely sensitive site and consequently might find it difficult in

getting clearance from the regulatory authority.

y Depending on the location specificity, an industry may have to provide more elaborate

and costlier pollution control equipment to meet more stringent standards than those

permissible, in order to avoid adverse impacts caused by extreme site sensitivity.

y

The pollution control equipment provided by an industry may not perform efficiently andwith reliability because of factors beyond control and hence there is a risk of pollution.

y Due to scattered industrial development, combined treatment or disposal facilities, that

may be much more economical and effective than providing facilities by industries

individually, cannot be provided.



~ 11~

y Pollution control programmes cannot be planned effectively with perspective due to

haphazard development. Also, decision making becomes difficult due to unplanned

development.

y Due to increasing public awareness on environmental aspects and due to the risks

involved in isolated location, an industry is under pressure for compliance with stringent

standards and the regulatory authorities are forced to take up immediate action.

Environmental planning is a proven tool for reducing the impacts from such risks. However, this

tool has seldom been used in this country. Proper siting of newly planned industries and

industrial estates is a strong pollution preventive instrument that ensures environmental

soundness of the industrial development. It is the site that ultimately determines which water

bodies might be affected by effluent discharged by an industry, which air-shed might be affected

by air pollutants or which ecosystems might be harmed. Site selection based on environmental

criteria with the objective of minimising adverse environmental impacts is, therefore, a vital

prerequisite.

For long, experts in the field of environment have been discussing about µcarrying capacity of the

environment¶, µsustainable development¶, µnatural resource accounting¶ etc. so as to find out a

mechanism for protecting our environment, before it is too late. Efforts are also being put up by

various technical and scientific organisations and institutions in the country in this line. Owing to

the multiplicity and complexity of variables involved, environmental planning in its totality in a

vast country like India, is not an easy task. But there is a need for planned development.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has decided to build up the tool of environmental

planning, in phases for the protection of the environment. The most immediate need is to

properly site industries so as to reduce the risks of pollution and to protect the environment.

There is also a need to simplify and support decision-making process on site clearance for

locating an industry. CPCB had prepared industrial siting guidelines for the Union Territory of

Pondicherry in, as early as, 1988 and subsequently similar guidelines were prepared for Hassan

District of Karnataka in 1992 under the Indo-German bilateral programme. The results from

these studies have been encouraging, emphasising the need for conducting such programmes at

national level. CPCB in consultation with the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) decided to

prepare µZoning Atlas for Siting of Industries¶, based on environmental considerations, District-wise, throughout the country.



~ 12~

THE ZONING ATLAS :

The Zoning Atlas for siting of industries zones and classifies the environment in a District and

presents the pollution receiving potential of various sites/zones in the District and the possible

alternate sites for industries through easy-to-read maps.

The objectives of preparing a Zoning Atlas for siting of industries are:

y to zone and classify the environment in a District;

y to identify locations for siting of industries; and

y to identify industries suitable to the identified sites.

The Zoning Atlas considers only the environmental aspects. For siting of industries, both the

economic factors, such as availability of raw materials, market for finished product, water supply, electricity, labour availability etc., and the environmental factors are to be considered.

Assuming that the industries are the best in identifying the sites best suitable from economic

considerations, the Zoning Atlas is deemed to address the environmental considerations, the

industries may subsequently evaluate the site suitability from both the considerations. The

limitations of the Zoning Atlas are discussed in the last section (10.0).

Consideration of economic factors maximises profits over a short period but consideration of

environmental factors minimises liabilities over a longer period. Due to increasing pollution, the

environmental standards are being made more and more stringent with time. The costs of

pollution control investments on the industry are tremendously increasing, sometimes posing agreat burden on the industry and adding to the risks of closure by the regulatory authorities. A

situation is arising, where the costs due to environmental considerations are more than the

economic considerations. Preparation of the Zoning Atlas based on environmental considerations

is, hence, relevant and justified.

The Zoning Atlas, in addition to streamlining the decision-making process has several

benefits, some of which are briefed below :

y

Provides a ready-reckoner for best suitable site and relevant environmental information.y Makes decision-making process simpler, faster, realistic, transparent and reliable.

y Provides a basis for incorporating environmental aspects into physical (land use)

planning process that is lacking in the country.

y Helps in planning cost-effective pollution control measures and programmes.



~ 13~

y Helps an entrepreneur in readily finding out the location best suited to site an industry

thereby saving time, efforts, investment and risk instead of heading for an unknown site,

conducting environmental impact assessment and awaiting clearance by the regulatory

authorities.

y Helps develop infrastructure facilities, such as roads, water supply, electricity etc. and

provide common waste treatment and disposal facilities.

y Helps check additional pollution in the areas already over-stressed with pollution.

y Ensures that pollution potential of an industry is made compatible with the local

conditions of the site.

y Ensures that an industry, with high pollution potential desiring to locate in a high risk

area, will have to adopt clean technologies for manufacturing process so as to prevent

generation of wastes/pollution thereby making it compatible with the receiving

environment.

y Helps in increasing awareness of the public on type of industries and nature of pollution

anticipated in their neighbourhood well in advance.

y Helps achieve sustainable development.

A TOOL FOR DECISION-MAKING :

The Zoning Atlas is to be prepared for all the Districts in a State and the industrial siting plans of

each District are to be compiled to an abridged Industrial Siting Atlas for the entire State. A

National Atlas can then be prepared compiling Siting Atlases of various States. The Zoning Atlas

for siting of industries will help in decision-making at various levels including the Government -

Central & State, the industry, the regulatory authorities and the general public. The type of

decisions that can be taken at various levels are given below:



~ 14~

The Government:

y Notification of industrial areas;

y Decision on the type of industrial development. If the environmental considerations are

out-weighed by the economic consideration for siting industry, the government will know

the environmental costs to be borne, risks involved and the long term liabilities; and

y Restriction of growth of certain industries in specific areas.

The Industry:

For location of an industry, economic factors, such as availability of raw materials, water supply,

electricity, labour etc., and the environmental factors are to be considered. Although industry

knows the best suitable location from economic considerations, it may not be aware of its

implications from environmental protection angle. From the Zoning Atlas, an industry can find

out the suitable locations in various Districts of a State and then work out feasibility or economic

viability of commencing its operations in these locations. Accordingly, a decision can be taken

on the best suitable location.

The Regulatory Authorities:

y Decision on the suitability of an industry to a particular site without losing much time in

conducting of environmental impact assessment;

y Notification of site specific standards ;

y Provision of common pollution treatment and disposal facilities ;

y Plan well in advance pollution monitoring and control programmes ; and

y Plan in advance requirements of manpower, monitoring instruments and laboratory

facilities, budget etc. in the Regional/Zonal offices of the State Pollution Control Boards

for environmental regulations.

The Public:

The public through the Zoning Atlas, will know the locations of industrial development, the type

of industries that are likely to come up and the anticipated pollution in their neighborhood. They

can decide on the acceptability of such a development even before an industry actually comes up.

This eliminates apprehension against forcing pollution on them.



~ 15~

5) NOISE POLLUTION:

Whereas the increasing ambient noise levels in public places from various sources, inter-alia,

industrial activity, construction activity, generator sets, loud speakers, public address systems,

music systems, vehicular horns and other mechanical devices have deleterious effects on human

health and the psychological well being of the people; it is considered necessary to regulate and

control noise producing and generating sources with the objective of maintaining the ambient air

quality standards in respect of noise;

Responsibility as to enforcement of noise pollution control measures

y The noise levels in any area / zone shall not exceed the ambient air quality standards in

respect of noise as specified in the Schedule.

y The authority shall be responsible for the enforcement of noise pollution control

measures and the due compliance of the ambient air quality standards in respect of noise.

Restrictions on the use of loud speakers / public address system

y A loud speaker or a public address system shall not be used except after obtaining written

permission from the authority.



~ 16~

y A loud speaker or a public address system shall not be used at night (between 10:00 p.m.

to 6:00 a.m.) except in closed premises for communication within, e.g. auditoria,

conference rooms, community halls and banquet halls.

y Notwithstanding any thing contained in sub-rule (2), the State Government may subject

to such terms and conditions as are necessary to reduce noise pollution, permit use of

loud speakers or public address systems during night hours (between 10.00 p.m. to 12.00

midnight) on or during any cultural or religious festive occasion of a limited duration not

exceeding fifteen days in all during a calendar year.

Consequences of any violation in silence zone / area

Whoever, in any place covered under the silence zone / area commits any of the following

offence, he shall be liable for penalty under the provisions of the Act:-

y whoever, plays any music or uses any sound amplifiers,

y whoever, beats a drum or tom-tom or blows a horn either musical or pressure, or trumpet

or beats or sounds any instrument, or

y whoever, exhibits any mimetic, musical or other performances of a nature to attract

crowds.

Complaints to be made to the authority

y A person may, if the noise level exceeds the ambient noise standards by 10 dB (A) or

more given in the corresponding columns against any area / zone, make a complaint to

the authority.

y The authority shall act on the complaint and take action against the violator in accordance

with the provisions of these rules and any other law in force.

Power to prohibit etc. continuance of music sound or noise

If the authority is satisfied from the report of an officer incharge of a police station or other

information received by him that it is necessary to do so in order to prevent annoyance,

disturbance, discomfort or injury or risk of annoyance, disturbance, discomfort or injury to the

public or to any person who dwell or occupy property on the vicinity, he may, by a written order

issue such directions as he may consider necessary to any person for preventing, prohibiting,

controlling or regulating:-



~ 17~

the incidence or continuance in or upon any premises of-

y any vocal or instrumental music,

y sounds caused by playing, beating, clashing, blowing or use in any manner whatsoever of

any instrument including loudspeakers, public address systems, appliance or apparatus or

contrivance which is capable of producing or re-producing sound, or

the carrying on in or upon, any premises of any trade, avocation or operation or process resulting

in or attended with noise.

The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000:

Ambient air quality standards in respect of noise for different areas/zones

Responsibility as to enforcement of noise pollution control measures

Restrictions on the use of loud speakers / public address system

Consequences of any violation in silence zone / area

Complaints to be made to the authority

Power to prohibit etc. continuance of music sound or noise



~ 18~

6) WASTE:

Muncipal SolidWaste:

Municipal Solid Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000 (MSW Rules) are applicable to

every municipal authority responsible for collection, segregation, storage, transportation,

processing and disposal of municipal solid.

PlasticWaste:

Environmental Issues and Challenge

. The environmental hazards due to mismanagement of plastics waste include the followings:

Plastics carry bags, laminated pouches (including Gutka pouches) and other non-

recyclable plastics are littered through out the city.

Littered plastics spoils beauty of the city and chokes drains and make many important

public places filthy.

Garbage containing plastics when burnt may cause air pollution problem and particularly

burning of plastics may emit polluting gases.

Garbage mixed with plastics interferes in waste processing facilities and may also cause

problems in landfill operations.

Plastics waste littered at various places other than the bins set up by the local authorities,remains uncollected.

Local vendors (vegetable, fruits and groceries) are using plastics carry bags not meeting

with the prescribed specifications and such bags are not even collected by ragpickers.

Recycling industries operating in non-conforming areas are posing unhygienic problems

to the environment.

Main Features of the Plastics Manufacture and Usage (Amendment) Rules, 2003

According to these Rules

No person shall manufacture, stock, distribute or sell carry bags made of virgin or

recycled plastics bags which are less than 8 x 12 inches in size;.

No vendor shall use carry bags made of recycled plastics for storing, carrying, dispensing

or packaging of food stuffs;



~ 19~

No vendor shall use containers made of recycled plastics for storing, carrying, dispensing

or packaging of food stuffs.

The minimum thickness of carry bags made of virgin plastics or recycled plastics shall

not be less than 20 microns.

Carry bags and containers made of recycled plastic and used for purposes other than

storing and packaging food stuffs shall be manufactured using pigments and colourants as

per IS 9833:1981 entitled ³List of pigments and colourants for use in plastics in contact

with food, stuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water´

Recycling of plastics shall be undertaken strictly in accordance with the Bureau of Indian

Standards specification: IS 14534:1998 entitled ³The Guidelines for Recycling of

Plastics´

Manufacturers of recycled plastic carry bags having printing facilities shall code/mark

carry bags and containers as per Bureau of Indian standard specification: IS 14534:1998

(The Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics).

No person shall manufacture carry bags or containers irrespective of its size or weight

unless the occupier of the unit has registered the unit with the State Pollution Control

Board/Pollution Control Committee prior to the commencement of production.

The prescribed authority for enforcement of the provisions of these rules related to

manufacture and recycling is State Pollution control Boards in respect of States and the

Pollution Control Committees in Union Territories;

The prescribed authority for enforcement of the provisions of these rules relating to use,

collection, segregation, transportation and disposal shall be the District Collector/Deputy

Commissioner of the concerned district where no such Authority has been constituted by

the State Government/Union Territory administration under any law regarding non-

biodegradable garbage.

Every occupier manufacturing carry bags or containers of virgin plastics or recycled plastics or both shall make an application in prescribed format for grant of registration and renewal of

registration



~ 20~

FAILURES OF POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

1) MANGROVES

IMPORTANCE OF MANGROVES FOR MUMBAI

Mangroves represent the spirit of Mumbai ± they are plucky survivors. But each day, millions of

citizens in Mumbai pass these hardy plants imagining they are little more than dirty, muddy

weeds growing pointlessly along the shoreline. How little people understand just how important

mangroves are to the quality of life of the citizens of Mumbai.

By trapping silt, mangroves maintain the integrity of Mumbai¶s shoreline. This is a vital service

to the city of Mumbai as it is very prone to erosion, having been built on reclaimed land that is battered by the sea on all three sides. The recent rains in Mumbai and the disaster that followed

demonstrated the consequence of tampering with the ecology of fragile ecosystems like

mangroves. Had Mumbai¶s Mithi river and Mahim creek mangroves not been destroyed by

builders, fewer people would have died and the property damage would have been dramatically

less.

The Koli community in Mumbai worships mangroves because they know that these are breeding

and nursery grounds for the marine organisms on which their sustenance depends.

Coastal biodiversity including the million migratory birds that visit Mumbai are housed by themangroves.

Mumbai is one of the most populated city in the world with major space crunch. Only 0.03 acres

of open space available per 1000 population. Against 12 acres in London and 4 acres in New

York and 6 acres in Singapore.

Understudied, Mumbai mangroves can provide a large base for research opportunities. While

macro flora is little studied, micro flora and fauna of Mumbai coastline remains understudied.

Mumbai mangroves has the potential to hold a platform for disseminating environmentalawareness.



~ 21~

Challenges to mangroves in Mumbai

Land reclamation- Most industrial houses, developers,builders are reclaiming the

mangrove lands illegally Pollution ± There are over 200non point sources of industrialand domestic waste

discharges that pollute entire water aroundthe city- 6 times more than the assimilation

capacity

Under the name of ³development´ creeks, rivers and other water bodies are altered in

shape, size and course

Every year, over 1000 tons of mangrove wood is cut for fuel wood and to meet other

timber demands.

Unfortunately, builders, city planners, even some of our best-known architects have undermined

the need for mangroves and wetlands in the city. From over 37 sq. km. of mangroves spread over Versova, Malad, Gorai and other areas, with sporadic patches in places such as Bandra, Malabar

Hill and Colaba, Mumbai today, has probably lost 40 per cent of all its mangroves in the past

decade or so. By inching closer to the sea, we are inviting on ourselves the risk of flooding, and

upsetting the ecological balance.

Several commercial hubs such as Bandra-Kurla Complex and malls on New Link Road in Malad

have already seen mangrove swamps being replaced with extensive concrete structures. Even the

excellent mangrove forests in Lokhandwala, Bandra, Malad, Charkop, Borivali, Vikhroli are

screaming to be saved. We are in a situation, where High Court orders, CRZ and many other

laws protecting mangroves are being flouted blatantly.

That's the reason we need to make a choice NOW ± a choice to fight the pressures of

development, human interference or pollution. A choice to save our lifeline. And, 'Mumbaikars

for Mangroves' campaign is an ongoing movement to stop this mindless erosion, by bringing

together a collective majority to support the cause of saving our city's natural bounty.



~ 22~

2) Degradation of Mithi River

Some of the deadliest chemicals like cyanide, lead, zinc and sulphates have been detected

in the waters of the battered Mithi in suburban Mumbai

Citizens dump raw sewage, industrial waste and municipal waste into the river,

unchecked. Besides this, illegal activities like washing vessels, animals and oily drums,

discharge of unauthorised hazardous waste are also carried out along the course of this

river

Cattle sheds in some areas contribute animal waste

Barrel cleaners, scrap dealers and others dump sludge oil, effluent and garbage in the

river

The organic waste, sludge and garbage dumping has reduced the carrying capacity of the

river

The water with mixture of sewage and industrial waste is a threat to marine life. The river

bed is full of sludge, garbage and vegetation growth like hyacinth in many parts

Measures for revival of the River

In 2006, the Supreme court of India passed an order directing the state government to

remove encroachments on all water bodies.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has undertaken a cleanliness drive lately

so that the floods of July 26, 2005 are not repeated.

An eco-group has been formed by Rajendra Singh, an award winning conservationist in

2009.It aims to revive the dying river.



~ 23~

3) Powai Lake

Importance and Status of Powai Lake

Powai Lake which is located in the heart of suburban of Mumbai is surrounded by NITIE

, IIT, large housing complexes and unauthorized Hutment colonies.

The water of the lake is supplied to M/s L&T company and Aarey colony for non

domestic uses.

During last few decades, Population surrounding the lake has increased substantially.

Dissolved Oxygen level at the bottom of lake has gone low as 0.71 mg/ltr.

MAJOR CAUSES OF DETERIORATION OF LAKE

Uncontrolled development and unauthorized quarrying activities in the catchments area. Ingress of untreated sewage from the residential areas.

Dumping of garbage and other waste materials in the lake.

Washing of clothes, vehicles, open defecation etc. On the lakeshore.

Centre steps to save Powai lake

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has prepared a `Save PowaiL

ake' project andrecommended urgent measures to check the lake's pollution level.The project was cleared in a

special meeting of the Ministry on Wednesday, and international funding agencies are to be

approached for financial support.

The Union government has also recommended composition of a Lake Development Authority

(LDA) for Powai under the chairmanship of D M Sukhthankar, former chief secretary of

Maharashtra. Other members of the LDA will be the mayor of Mumbai, the municipal

commissioner, secretary of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the local corporator,

local MLA, a representative of the Environment Ministry, two NGOs and environment secretary

of the state government.

Bombay Environmental Action Group activist Debi Goenka, who was called to New Delhi for

the meeting, said in view of paucity of funds, a detailed project report will have to be prepared

immediately for placing the project for foreign funding, particularly by the World Bank. Also,

the ministry has sought major modifications in an estimated Rs 41-crore project report prepared

by BMC, Goenka added.



~ 24~

As part of the preventive measures, the Ministry has requested the Central Pollution Control

Board to ask its counterpart MPCB to take immediate action for preventing and controlling

pollution of the lake due to discharge of waste water in the surrounding areas.

Though the Indian Institute of Technology, located near Powai lake, has a sewage treatment

plant, it is seldom in operation. As a result, a large quantity of pollutants from the area ends up in

the lake, Goenka pointed out.

The MPCB has been asked to stop the flow of effluents (from industries located in the lake's

catchment area) into the waters. A check on disposal of garbage and other urban waste and

measures to prevent washing of vehicles in the water have been suggested.

The ministry, under provisions of the Environment (Protection) Acts, 1986, has taken a serious

view of thelarge number of stone quarries, crushing units, cement mixing plants and asphalt

manufacturing plants near the lake. The government has been asked to ensure that no liquid or

solid waste from these units is disposed into the lake.It has also been suggested that the state

government should take immediate steps to remove encroachments from the catchment area of

the lake.

The `Save Powai Lake' project assumes significance in light of the fact that Union Minister for

Environment & Forests Suresh Prabhu visited the lake to take stock of the situation.

Residents of Powai and environmentalists, including members of the Maharashtra Angling Club,

had staged a demonstration near the lake to highlight its condition. Many school children had

joined the demonstration.

The history of Powai lake dates back to around 1894, when the Britishers had earmarked the five

sq km area as water reserve in view of an impending drought. The environs around the lake area

later evolved into a spot forrecreation, before the builders dug in and degradation began.

Documents

Environment Final Hard Copy