City Kemp News
The State Government and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has taken up various initiatives for enforcing effective regulatory system. This is also in line with the Central and State Governments initiative frame work for Ease of Doing Business. These initiatives will not only help in simplifying the procedures and practices without diluting the spirit of the regulations.
Some of the significant initiatives:
* Online consent/authorization under the Water Act, the Air Act for Green and Orange category industries, the Hazardous Waste Rules and the Municipal Solid Waste Rules:
The Board has taken the assistance of National Informatics Centre for development of software for online receipt, processing and disposal of applications. This software also helps the industries/entrepreneurs to file their returns under various statutes online. The software provides facilities for knowing the various stages of processing, quarries raised by the officers, inspection reports, monitoring results, payment dues.
The Board is also in the process of establishing software for online payment of consent fees. The consents issued will be digitally signed which can be verified through online. In the first phase, the Green and Orange category industries/ organizations have been covered for online application.
The same will be extended to Red category by end of December, 2015. The other modules for Bio Medical Waste, Hazardous Waste, Municipal Solid Waste, Water Cess, E-Waste and Laboratory Information Management System will be taken up in the subsequent phases.
The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) also have made online submission of applications for Environmental Clearance from the proponents mandatory since 02.07.2015. A total No of 431 proposals have been received as on date and 286 proposals have been considered. Remaining 145 proposals are being examined by the expert committee.
* To carryout continuous monitoring of vehicular emission and noise pollution levels in Bangalore city, the Board has proposed to procure 12 mobile vans equipped with vehicular emission testing kits and noise level meters for joint monitoring with Transport Department. This will enable Transport Department to initiate action against violators.
* The Board has proposed to procure three mobile laboratories equipped with sampling and monitoring facilities for water, air and other wastes to be used throughout the State on need basis especially in problematic areas and major industrial clusters.
* To support the Bangalore Traffic Police, the Board is procuring 100 noise level meters with hand held printers for on the spot noise measurements from vehicles due to defective engines, shrill horns, unnecessary honking etc. The Traffic Police can use the equipment for penalizing the violators on the spot.
* Proposed to establish Real Time Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations at Mangalore, Bellary, Hubballi – Dharwad & Kalaburagi. This will enable the District Administration and other departments to initiate action for improving the air quality.
* The Board has planned to take up fresh study on source apportionment. Similar study is also proposed for noise level mapping in Bangalore and Mysore with the technical support from the National Institutes. These studies will help in preparing action plans of the line departments to improve air quality and in reducing noise pollution.
* For highly polluting 17 category of industries, such as cement, steel, distillery, sugar, bulk drugs, etc. the Board has directed the industries to install Real time online monitoring systems for treated effluent and emissions in order to have a close monitoring network. The Board is in the process of obtaining the online results from these industries through software.
* Central Environmental Laboratory has obtained certification from National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL) and is in the process of obtaining recognition under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
* Board has proposed to take up up-gradation of Regional Laboratories at Mysuru, Mangaluru and Belagavi in order to get National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL) accreditation and recognition under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
* As per the directions of CPCB, the Board has made mandatory to provide sewage treatment plants for 50 apartments and above so as to address the issue of sewage entry into lakes. In this regard, action will be initiated to issue orders at the Government level.
* In the background of huge quantity of froth in Bellandur and Varthur Lakes of Bangalore, the Board has constituted six teams in Bangalore to verify the performance of operation and maintenance of STPs in apartments and commercial establishments. The survey is in progress. The Board will initiate penal action on the defaulters after getting the report from the teams.
* Board is proposed to constitute a Vigilance Squad for effective monitoring and enforcement of Board activities. This squad will comprise of Senior Officers.
* Due to the use of Plaster of Paris in idol making and immersion in water bodies, the water quality is getting affected. The Board has advised the Government to ban idol making by using Plaster of Paris and other paints containing heavy metals. The Government is verifying the same.
* At present there is only one Treatment Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDF) at Dabaspet, Bangalore for hazardous waste. One more facility is being planned to facilitate the industries in Northern Karnataka for scientific disposal of hazardous waste.
* Initiated action to establish common effluent treatment plant for electroplating industries at Urban Eco Park of KSPCB at Peenya. Laghu Udyog Bharati, Karnataka has come forward to invest and maintain the plant on no profit basis.
* The earlier consent fee criteria based on investment is now being revised. It is now proposed to amend the Rule to charge the consent fees based on the investment made on plant and machinery only. This amendment being simplification in tune with the Industrial Policy of the State Government.
* The redundant procedures like collecting guarantee money and administrative charges to ensure compliances by defaulting industries have been stopped. Instead of this, the Board will initiate the penal actions on the defaulters. This action is in line with Ease of Doing Business initiatives.
* As an initiative and as a model to other Government establishments, the Board has planned to go for solar energy for all its office buildings in the State.
* The Board at present is under staffed, steps are being taken to take up recruitment in all the cadres to fill up the vacancies. In order to motivate the officers and staff of the Board, the long pending issues like promotion, increment, etc. are being addressed on priority.
