Air Quality Monitoring
Air quality is important simply because we can’t avoid breathing the air around us. The average adult breathes in about 20 cubic meters, or 20,000 liters of air a day. Other planets have sunlight, but only our earth has air and water. Without all of these there would be no life. A diverse community of plant and animal life has thrived on this planet for millions of years, sustained by the sun and supported by the soil, water and air.
Air pollutants mainly come from the discharges of gases and particles mainly from industry, motor vehicles and Biomass combustion. There are also natural sources such as wind-blown dust and smoke from bush fires. Some forms of air pollution create global problems viz., upper atmosphere ozone depletion and acid rain. The enhanced greenhouse effect also falls into this category.
Policy makers are active in framing rules and regulations for the better management of air pollution thereby ensuring better air quality. Rules and regulations work well at institutional level but at the individual level awareness and conscientious is very important to effectively reduce the air pollution.
APPCB is assessing the ambient air quality in the state. A monitoring network with 60 ambient air quality-monitoring stations through out the state are placed to assess the changes in air quality. In addition to it in Hyderabad continuous ambient air quality monitoring station has been installed. Based on the results of these monitoring stations, the government of A.P has taken preventive measures to control air pollution from different sources. APPCB is monitoring the point source emissions regularly and directions to install / upgrade air pollution control equipment are given to the industries that are exceeding the standards
Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) assesses the ambient air quality in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) is having fully equipped three Zonal Laboratories located at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada & Kurnool and nine Regional Offices to carry out the functions laid down in the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Amendments thereof and is monitoring and assessing the ambient air quality in the State of Andhra Pradesh ever since its inception.
A network with 41 ambient air quality monitoring station has been put in place through out the State of Andhra Pradesh to assess the air quality and its changes. Based on the monitoring results and trends, Government of Andhra Pradesh will be able to take preventive measures to control air pollution from different sources.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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.
What are sources of water pollution and waste water 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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
|
|
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 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.s
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?
|
|
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 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 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.s
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
