What are the specific functions of the Pollution Control Boards?

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.

Functions of 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 important Environmental Laws in the country?

The important Environmental laws in the country is given below:

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

How many critically polluted areas have been identified?
The Central Pollution Control Board in consultation with State Pollution Control Boards has identified 24 areas in the country as critically polluted areas. These are: Bhadravati (Karnataka), Chembur (Maharashtra), Digboi (Assam), Govindgarh (Punjab), Greater Cochin (Kerala), Kala-Amb (Himachal Pradesh), Parwanoo (Himachal Pradesh), Korba (Madhya Pradesh), Manali (Tamil Nadu), North Arcot (Tamil Nadu), Pali (Rajasthan), Talcher (Orissa), Vapi (Gujarat), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Dhanbad (Bihar), Durgapur (West Bengal), Howrah (West Bengal), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Nagda- Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh), Najafgarh Drain (Delhi), Patancheru Bollaram (Andhra Pradesh), Singrauli (Uttar Pradesh), Ankleshwar (Gujarat), Tarapur (Maharashtra)

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 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 are the 17 Categories of the major polluting industries?
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

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 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.