Kerala State Pollution Control Board

1. Functions under Water Act
2. Functions under Water Cess Act
3. Functions under Air Act
4. Functions under Public Liability Insurance Act
5. Functions under Environment (Protection) Act

1. Functions under Water Act

* to plan a comprehensive program for the prevention, control or abatement of pollution of streams and wells in the State

* to advise the State Government on any matter concerning the prevention, control or abatement of water pollution

* to collect and disseminate information relating to water pollution and the prevention, control or abatement thereof

* to encourage, conduct and participate in investigations and research relating to problems of water pollution and prevention, control or abatement of water pollution

* to collaborate with the Central Board in organising the training of persons engaged or to be engaged in programs relating to prevention, control or abatement of water pollution and to organise mass education programs .

* to inspect sewage or trade effluents, works and plants for the treatment of sewage and trade effluents and to review plans, specifications or other data relating to plants set up for the treatment of water, works for the purification thereof and the system for the disposal of sewage or trade effluents or in connection with the grant of any consent as required by this Act

* lay down, modify or annul effluent standards for the sewage and trade effluents and for the quality of receiving waters (not being water in an interstate stream) resulting from the discharge of effluents and to classify waters of the State

* to evolve economical and reliable methods of treatment sewage and trade effluents, having regard to the peculiar conditions of solids, climate and water resources of different regions and more especially the prevailing flow characteristics of water in streams and wells which render it impossible to attain even the minimum degree to dilution

* to evolve methods of utilisation of sewage and suitable trade effluents in agriculture

* to evolve efficient methods of disposal of sewage and trade effluents on land, as are necessary on account of the predominant conditions of scant stream flows that do not provide for major par of the year the minimum degree of dilution

* to lay down standards of treatment of sewage and trade effluents to be discharged into any particular stream taking into account the minimum fair weather dilution available in that stream and the tolerance limits of pollution permissible in the water of the stream, after the discharge of such effluents

* to make, vary or revoke any order -

requiring any person concerned to construct new systems for the disposal of sewage and trade effluents or to modify, after or extend any such existing system or to adopt such remedial measures as are necessary to prevent control or abate water pollution
for the prevention, control or abatement of discharges of waste into streams or wells

* to lay down effluent standards to be complied with by persons while causing discharge of sewage or sullage or both and to lay down, modify or annul effluent standards for the sewage and trade effluents to advise the State Government with respect to the location of any industry the carrying on of which is likely to pollute a stream or well (List of Polluting Industries)

* to perform such other functions as may be prescribed or as may, from time to time be entrusted to it by the Central Board or the State Government.

The Board may establish or recognise a laboratory or laboratories to enable the Board to perform its functions under this section efficiently, including the analysis of samples of water from any stream or well or of samples of any sewage or trade effluents.

2. Functions under the Water Cess Act

* to receive water consumption returns from persons liable to pay cess.

* to assess the cess payable by the concerned person carrying on any special industry or local authority.

* to allow rebate on the cess payable by any person carrying on any industry or local authority who install requisite plant for treatment of sewage or trade effluent.

* to collect cess from the assesses.

* To take or cause to take action against defaulters.

3. Functions under the Air Act

* to plan a comprehensive programme for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution and to secure the execution thereof.

> To advise the State Government on any matter concerning prevention, control or abatement of air pollution.

* To collect and disseminate information relating to air pollution.

* To collaborate with the Central Board in organising the training of persons engaged or to be engaged in programmes relating to prevention, control or abatement of air pollution and to organise mass education programmes relating thereto.

* To inspect, at all reasonable times, any control equipment, industrial plant or manufacturing process and to give, by order, such directions to such persons as may consider necessary to take steps for prevention, control or abatement of air pollution.

* To inspect air pollution control areas at such intervals as it may think necessary, assess the quality of air therein and take steps for the prevention, control or abatement of air pollution in such areas.

* To lay down, in consultation with the Central Board and having regarding to the standards for the quality of air laid down by the Central Board, standards for emission of air pollutants into the atmosphere from industrial plants and automobiles or for the discharge of any air pollutant into atmosphere from any other source whatsoever not being a ship or an aircraft, Provided that different standards for emission may be laid down under this clause for different industrial plants having regard to the quantity and composition of emission of air pollutant into the atmosphere from such industrial plants.

* To advise the State Government with respect to the suitability of any premises or location for carrying on any industry which is likely to cause air pollution.

* To perform such other functions as may be prescribed or as may from time to time, be entrusted to it by the Central Board or the State Government.

* To do such other things and to perform such other acts as it may think necessary for the proper discharge of its functions and generally for the purpose of carrying into effect the purposes of this Act.

4. Functions under Public Liability Insurance Act

to implement the Public Liability Insurance Act, particularly

to make application to court to restrain owner under section 13(1) from handling hazardous substances, to implement the order of the court under section 13(3) (b) and to recover cost thereof under section 13(4).
to file complaint in court
to receive and act upon notice under section 18(b) of intention to make complaint to court.

5. Functions under Environment Act

* to implement measures for the protection and improvement of environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property.

* To cause remedial measures to prevent or mitigate environmental pollution in case of accidents.

* To conduct inspections to check compliance and to collect or seize evidence thereof.

* To collect samples of air, water, soil or other substances.

* To provide service as Environmental Laboratory

* to evolve standardised methods for sampling and analysis of various types of environmental pollutants;

* to analyse samples sent by empowered officers;

* to carry out investigations to lay down standards, to monitor and to enforce standards;

* to carry out any other entrusted function.

* To take cognisance of offences.

To implement the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules,

particularly to process applications for and to issue/refuse/renew authorisation for collection, reception, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes;
to monitor compliance with the provisions and conditions of authorisation;
to process and forward to Ministry of Environment & Forests applications for imports;
to review matters pertaining to identification and notification of disposal sites.

To implement the Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, particularly

to enforce directions and procedures in respect of isolated storage of hazardous chemicals, regarding
notification of major accidents;
notification of sites;
safety reports;
preparation of on-site emergency plans.
To enforce directions and procedures on import of hazardous chemicals, regarding receipt of information regarding import;
issue of direction to importer to take appropriate safety measures; stoppage of import, if necessary;
informing concerned port authority on safety measures.
To serve improvement notice on persons contravening the rules.

To implement Rules for the Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Micro-organisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, particularly

to inspect, investigate and take punitive action on behalf of the State Biotechnology Co-ordination Committee in case of violations;
to supervise, on behalf of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee, implementation of the terms and conditions of approvals granted by the Committee.

To implement the Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, particularly

to serve in the State Crisis Group
to serve in the District Crisis Groups which are the apex bodies in the respective areas to deal with major chemical accidents and to provide expert guidance for handling chemical accidents.

To implement the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, particularly

to receive from institutions generating, collecting, receiving, storing, transporting, treating, disposing and/or handling biomedical wastes applications for authorisation, to process the same and issue/ refuse/ renewing/ cancel/ suspend authorisation;
to compile and furnish to the Central Pollution Control Board annual reports from occupiers /operators;
to inspect and verify facilities and records;
to receive and act upon reports of accidents.

To implement the Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, particularly

to receive and process applications for permit to manufacture or recycle plastic carry bags and containers and to issue/refuse/renew/cancel permits.

To implement the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, particularly

to monitor compliance with standards on ground water, ambient air, leachate quality, compost quality and incineration;
to receive and process application for authorisation for setting up waste processing and disposal facility and to issue/refuse/renew/cancel authorisation;
to furnish annual reports to the Central Pollution Control Board.

To implement the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, particularly

to regulate and control noise of industrial origin;
to monitor ambient sound levels;
to advise the State Government on all aspects relating to noise pollution control.

To implement the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, particularly

to receive and verify half yearly returns on sale of new batteries and collection of old batteries;
to receive and process undertaking by importer;
to receive and verify half yearly returns from importer of lead acid batteries;
to receive and verify half yearly returns on sale and collection of batteries by dealers
to receive and verify annual returns from recyclers of used batteries
to receive and verify half yearly returns form bulk consumers of batteries
to receive and verify half yearly returns by auctioneers of used batteries;
to ensure compliance with the rules;
to file annual compliance status report to the Central Pollution Control Board.

* To conduct public hearing in case of environmental clearance of projects and to furnish report thereof to the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

* To issue certificate on non-exceedance of existing pollution load to project proponents for expansion/modernisation.