Online monitoring system to measure industrial pollution Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has established a system of real-time updating and monitoring of pollution data from various industries across the State.
Until now, this data was procured manually from the industries. This was consuming much of the time. By establishing online real-time data updating mechanism, the KSPCB has now been empowered with real-time monitoring of the data, says Dr. Vaman Acharya, Chairman,
KSPCB. KSPCB has established a huge PC Screen to watch the data continuously. The technology has been deployed with the assistance of KEONICS. By establishing this real-time monitoring system, KSPCB has taken more control over the industries, which have now been give a 5 year licence to avoid administrative delays.
Around 271 industries covering Pesticides, Pharma produces, Pulp and paper, Zinc, Copper, Aluminium, Tei-Dye, Chloride, Sugar, Distillery, Tannery, Power, Cement, Fertilisers, Iron & Steel, Oil processing and petrochemical products have been enlisted to feed this data. Additionally, Baikampady industrial area, Mangaluru, and Bhadravati have been identified as most polluted areas and will be covered in this real-time system. Tungabhadra river (Harihar area), Bhadra river, Halasur Lake, Hebballa valley (Mandya) have also been identified as polluted areas and will be coming under this real-time monitoring mechanism.
KSPCB has successfully implemented the guidelines suggested by CPCB and has become oneamong few states in India to have this state of the art system. Basic information on flow, PH Value, TSS, COD, BOD and Ammonia will be collected in the first stage and based on this data, if need arises, KSPCB will seek additional data. Any excess pollution beyond prescribed norms by 10% will generate an alert on the system. The industries are mandated to feed their data regularly without fail. But KSPCB will provide the necessary technology backbone for feeding the data.
KSPCB has established a separate AIR CARE CENTRE to take measures based on the data that is being monitored through this system.
KSPCB announces exemption from permission for Solar Power installations upto 5 MW capacity
In the background of the Karnataka State Government’s new Solar Power Policy, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has decided to keep only solar power units with more than 5 MW or above under the concerned acts for issuing the licences.
As a result of this decision, public who establish solar power plants of capacity less than 5 MW need not get No Objection Certificate, Dr. Vaman Acharya, Chairman, KSPCB has stated. Since the power thus generated by these solar units will be shared directly through the grid, there will not be any pollution.
Solar power is more natural than other energy sources like Coal, Nuclear power and Hydro electricity. Government of Karnataka has announced solar power policy with lot of encouraging incentives. KSPCB has taken this step to support this programme by Government of Karnataka. Solar power comes under green category in the industry categorisation of Pollution Control Act.
