The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has set up a mechanism under its environmental surveillance squad programme to carry out surprise inspections and assessment of pollution levels of industrial units, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
Environment minister Prakash Javadekar told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that based on the inspections, in 2013-14, 201 industries in various states were inspected.
"CPCB has set up a mechanism under its Environmental Surveillance Squad (ESS) programme for carrying out surprise inspections and assessment of levels of pollution of industrial units based on adoption of a uniform approach and elimination of subjectivity in scheduling inspections," he said.
Javadekar said that in addition, the surprise inspections were carried out to check the adequacy of pollution control systems and status of compliance to the prescribed standards by the industries including steel, textile and sugar plants.
He said that based on the inspections, CPCB has issued directions to the defaulting industries under section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and to the State Pollution Control Board under section 18(1)(b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and section 18(1)(b) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
The Minister said that out of the total 201 inspections carried in various states in 2013-14, 21 industries were given directions under section 5 while six industries were given directions under section 18 (1)(b).
He said to further strengthen monitoring mechanism for effective compliance through self-regulatory mechanism, directions under section 18(1)(b) of the Water and Air Acts have been issued to all SPCB on February 5, 2014 by CPCB...
...To direct all industries which fall under 17 categories of highly polluting industries, common Effluent Treatment plants, common hazardous waste and biomedical Waste Incinerators to install continuous emission and effluent monitoring system by March 31, 2015, Javadekar said.
As per the directions, they have been asked to submit bank guarantee at the rate of 25 per cent of the cost of online monitoring systems for ensuring timely installation of online monitoring systems.
